GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories, Nov 17, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - The health

ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday that 24 patients have died in the past
two days at Al-Shifa hospital owing to power cuts, as Israeli forces search
the facility for Hamas hideouts.

"Twenty-four patients in different departments have died over the last 48
hours as vital medical equipment has stopped functioning because of the power
outage," said ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra.

On Monday, the ministry said 27 adult intensive care patients and seven
babies had already died as Gaza's largest hospital ran out of fuel to run its
generators.

The health facility has become the focus of Israel's war against Hamas, with
Israel alleging Islamist fighters are using a tunnel complex beneath the
hospital to stage their attacks.

Hamas has repeatedly denied the claims.

But Israeli special forces have been combing through the facility since
Wednesday, and claim to have found evidence the hostages seized by Hamas in
their October 7 attacks on south Israel were held there.

The Hamas health ministry said the raid has destroyed medical services in the
hospital, where the UN estimated 2,300 patients, staff and displaced
Palestinians were sheltering before Israeli troops moved in.