Israeli tanks have encircled hospitals in Gaza, trapping medical staff and endangering patients, according to Mustafa al-Kahlout, the director of Al Nasr hospital and Al Rantisi Pediatric hospital. Al-Kahlout urgently called for the Red Cross to assist in the evacuation of the hospitals as they face severe shortages of electricity, oxygen, medicine, and water.

The hospitals, located near the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood and Al Shati camp, have become targets of ground fighting between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas. Reports of strikes near other hospitals in northern Gaza, including the largest medical facility, al-Shifa hospital, also emerged. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that al-Shifa hospital was under bombardment, with 20 hospitals in the Gaza Strip rendered "out of action."

Videos shared on social media showed the aftermath of strikes on al-Shifa's outpatient clinic, with injured individuals lying on the ground. The exact nature of the strike is unclear, but witnesses claimed it was an attack. CNN has reached out to the IDF for comment, but no response has been received so far.

Al Awda hospital, in a Facebook statement, reported that it had been targeted by Israeli forces, resulting in injuries to 10 employees, damage to infrastructure, and the destruction of two ambulances. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) also stated that one of its volunteers was injured, and two ambulances were rendered unusable near Al Awda hospital.

The IDF has called for civilians to move south of Wadi Gaza, a waterway dividing the center of the Strip, as it escalates its assault on Gaza City and the northern region. The IDF has accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure for its military purposes. However, CNN cannot independently verify these claims.

The situation has raised concerns about the dire humanitarian conditions faced by those remaining in northern Gaza. Most of the hospitals in the region, 18 out of 35, have ceased operations, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. In addition, damage or lack of fuel has forced 71% of primary-care facilities to shut down. The remaining open hospitals are struggling to provide adequate care and are gradually closing wards.

Volker Türk, the top United Nations human rights official, has cast doubts on Israel's establishment of "safe zones" within Gaza, stating that nowhere in the territory is safe for civilians.

As the Israeli offensive on Gaza continues, more than 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah. The mounting casualties have prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to condemn the civilian toll inflicted by the Israeli offensive, acknowledging the suffering endured by Palestinians over the past weeks.

The intensifying conflict in Gaza has caused a growing exodus of Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly, who are seeking safety in the south through evacuation corridors designated by the Israeli military. The situation remains critical, and urgent international intervention is needed to prevent further loss of life and address the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.