Israeli troops close in on northern Gaza's last functioning hospital

A dozen people were reportedly killed at a second major medical facility in northern Gaza yesterday despite hopes that a ceasefire-for-hostages deal would be agreed.

- Dan Sabbagh

Video broadcast on Al Jazeera TV showed damage to what were described as patient facilities at the packed facility, called the Indonesian hospital, while footage on social media appeared to show Israeli tanks closing in on the complex.

One hospital worker, Marwan Abdallah, said the tanks were clearly visible from the hospital windows. "Women and children are terrified.

There are constant sounds of explosions and gunfire," he said. The ministry of health in Gaza said it believed 12 people had been killed in shelling overnight and that it feared a repeat of what happened at al-Shifa hospital, which was surrounded and raided by Israeli forces last week.

There was no immediate comment from the Israel Defense Forces, although in the past the Israeli military has said it believes a Hamas tunnel entrance was near the Indonesian hospital and that missiles were launched into Israel from nearby.

The ministry of health in Gaza said 700 people, including medical staff, were crowded into the Indonesian hospital, the last hospital operating in northern Gaza. Broadcast footage showed wounded people and sheltering civilians packed into its corridors.