MSF halts medical services in Gaza City as Israeli offensive escalates
Gaza City: Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) announced on Friday that it has suspended lifesaving medical activities in Gaza City, citing an “unacceptable level of risk” to staff and patients as Israeli forces intensified their assault.
The humanitarian group said continued airstrikes and advancing tanks less than a kilometre from its healthcare facilities forced the suspension. “We have been left with no choice but to stop our activities, as our clinics are encircled by Israeli forces,” said Jacob Granger, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Gaza.
According to MSF, the halt comes at a critical time when needs are immense. Infants in neonatal care, patients with severe injuries, and people with life-threatening illnesses remain in grave danger. Tens of thousands have fled south following evacuation orders, but hundreds of thousands are still trapped in Gaza City without a safe route out.
Hospitals across the enclave are struggling with shortages of staff, supplies, and fuel, leaving many patients arriving too late and in critical condition. Despite the deteriorating situation, MSF clinics in Gaza City provided more than 3,600 consultations and treated 1,655 cases of malnutrition just last week, alongside trauma, burn, and maternity care.
While suspending activities in Gaza City, MSF said it would continue supporting services at Al-Helou and Al-Shifa hospitals as long as they remain functional. Teams in southern Gaza are still operating at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al-Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area, and several field hospitals.
MSF called for an immediate halt to hostilities and urged Israeli authorities to guarantee unhindered humanitarian access. “People in Gaza City have been repeatedly and relentlessly bombed. They are exhausted and are being deliberately deprived of the essentials needed to survive,” the group said.
The ongoing Israeli offensive has killed at least 65,549 people and wounded 167,518 since October 2023, with thousands more believed to be trapped under rubble.
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India trashes Pakistan's allegations of Indian hand in disturbing peace in Balochistan
New Delhi (PTI): India on Sunday categorically rejected as baseless Pakistan's allegations of an Indian hand in attempts to disturb peace in Balochistan, and said it is Islamabad's usual tactics to deflect attention from its "internal failings".
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, trashing the charges, also highlighted Pakistan's record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights.
"We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, which are nothing but its usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings," he said.
Jaiswal was responding to Pakistan military's unsubstantiated claim that India was supporting terrorist elements in their attempts to disturb peace in Balochistan.
"Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, it would do better to focus on addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region. Its record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known," he added.
At least 15 Pakistani soldiers and 92 militants were killed in multiple counter-terrorism operations carried out by Pakistani security forces in Balochistan province, the Pakistan army said.
The operations were launched after militants belonging to ethnic Baloch groups carried out attacks at several locations on Saturday, it said in a statement.
The Pakistan army said the militants attempted to disturb peace by carrying out terrorist activities in and around Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan and Panjgur, it said.
