GAZA: As heavy fighting continues between Israeli forces and Hamas, thousands of people in Gaza’s hospitals are trapped in a dire situation. The ongoing conflict has not only brought destruction to key medical installations but also jeopardized the lives of patients who depend on these facilities. Bright flares lighting up the night sky over Gaza City and echoing blasts indicate the intensity of the battle.
Hospitals Under Siege
The largest hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, is reportedly “totally surrounded, and bombardments are going on nearby,” according to the hospital’s director, Mohammad Abu Salmiya. The dire conditions within the hospital include a lack of water, power, food, and internet for approximately 600 post-operative patients, 37-40 babies, and 17 people in intensive care. Tragically, two babies in the Al-Shifa neonatal unit lost their lives when the power to their incubators was cut off. A man also died due to his ventilator shutting down.
Medical aid group Doctors Without Borders issued a stark warning, stating that unless there is an immediate ceasefire or at least a medical evacuation of patients, these hospitals will turn into morgues. The UN’s World Health Organization expressed grave concern about the safety of health workers, patients, including babies on life support, and displaced people within Al-Shifa hospital.
Israeli Denial and Accusations
The Israeli military has denied conducting strikes or imposing a siege on Al-Shifa hospital. However, they have consistently accused Hamas of using medical facilities as command centers and hideouts. In response, Hamas denies these accusations. The Israeli army has pledged to provide assistance to help transfer babies in the pediatric department to a safer hospital, responding to a request from Al-Shifa staff.
The impact of the conflict extends beyond Al-Shifa hospital. Reports indicate that 20 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are no longer functioning, raising serious concerns about the ability to provide essential medical care to the population. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has urgently called on the international community and humanitarian groups to intervene and protect people in Al-Quds Hospital, also in Gaza City.
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis
Infants in Al-Quds Hospital are facing dehydration due to a lack of breast milk alternatives, highlighting the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Other hospitals, including the Indonesian hospital in north Gaza, are also grappling with challenges, such as fuel shortages affecting power supply to vital facilities.
As the conflict intensifies, tens of thousands of Palestinians are fleeing southwards through an evacuation corridor opened by the Israeli military. The Israeli army reports that approximately 200,000 Palestinians have left the northern Gaza Strip in the last three days. However, even in the south, strikes are hitting buildings, further complicating evacuation efforts.
Global Reactions and Rallies
The conflict has triggered protests and rallies worldwide. In London, an estimated 300,000 people marched to support Palestinians, demanding a ceasefire and expressing solidarity. The global response reflects the deep concern for the escalating violence and its impact on civilians.
The conflict is not limited to Gaza, as tensions rise in the region. Israeli fighter jets conducted strikes against “terror infrastructure” targets inside Syria in response to cross-border fire directed at the Golan Heights. Cross-border fire exchanges have also been reported along the frontier with Lebanon.
Ongoing Concerns and Calls for Ceasefire
As the crisis continues, there are growing fears of the war expanding into neighboring countries. The situation is exacerbated by inflammatory rhetoric from leaders on both sides, with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi calling for the designation of Israel’s military as a “terrorist organization.” Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned Hezbollah of the consequences of launching a war, emphasizing the potential for widespread destruction.
The escalating violence in Gaza has pushed hospitals to the brink, with the lives of patients hanging in the balance. The international community remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
