The Israeli military said Saturday it will aid the evacuation of babies from Gaza’s largest hospital, amid intense fighting around the facility between soldiers and Palestine’s Hamas group.

“The staff of the Al-Shifa hospital has requested that tomorrow, we will help the babies in the paediatric department to get to a safer hospital. We will provide the assistance needed,” military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing.

Earlier Saturday, medics said two premature babies had died at the hospital in Gaza City when the neonatal intensive care unit stopped working due to lack of power.

“There is a real risk to the lives of 37 other premature infants,” Physicians for Human Rights Israel said, citing doctors at Al-Shifa hospital.

A surgeon at the facility, Mohammed Obeid, confirmed the newborn deaths and said an adult patient also died because there was no electricity for his ventilator.

“We want someone to give us the guarantee that they can evacuate the patients, because we have about 600 inpatients,” he said, in an audio recording published by medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

Speaking to AFP by phone, witnesses at the hospital said there was relentless gunfire, air strikes and artillery fire which prevented people moving even within the medical complex.

Indian metal band, Eternal Returns, faced a challenge in finding a replacement drummer after their original drummer passed away due to the pandemic. They turned to Instagram and discovered Viktor Lytvynov, a drummer based in war-hit Ukraine. Lytvynov collaborated with the band remotely, recording tracks for their upcoming album despite the conflict in his country. Their communication was hindered by language barriers, but they managed to overcome them. However, due to wartime Ukrainian law, Lytvynov is unable to join the band for live performances when their album is released next month.

On Saturday night, Shilpa Shetty hosted a star-studded Diwali party. Attending the celebrations were some of Bollywood’s finest including Shahid Kapoor. The actor arrived with his wife Mira Rajput. While Shahid opted for a blue ethnic suit, Mira wore a white co-ord set.

Anil Kapoor, Nushrratt Bharrucha and others were also clicked arriving in style. Check out the photos here: