Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have unleashed unprecedented destruction, claiming more than a dozen lives and annihilating crucial medical facilities. Gaza officials report that the main hospital’s cardiac ward has been obliterated, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the besieged strip, now in its 37th consecutive day of relentless fighting.
On Sunday, at least 13 people fell victim to an Israeli air strike on a residential home in Khan Younis, amplifying the toll of civilian casualties. Alarming reports reveal that Israeli forces persist in their siege around Gaza’s largest medical facility, al-Shifa Hospital. Thousands of staff, patients, and displaced individuals are now trapped within, grappling with the dire situation characterized by a lack of electricity and rapidly depleting supplies.
Ashraf al-Qudra, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, conveyed a dire message to Al Jazeera, emphasizing that al-Shifa Hospital is now rendered completely non-functional. Continuous Israeli attacks have left the hospital unable to provide even basic treatment to patients within its walls.
The Israeli bombing has ruthlessly targeted the hospital’s surroundings, endangering anyone within the courtyard and traversing between its buildings. Al-Qudra painted a grim picture, stating, “We have deaths in the nursery after the life support machines stopped working inside the section that includes 37 other children who may be on the verge of death.”
Tragically, the power outage and lack of fuel have resulted in five deaths among the wounded, as medical teams struggle to perform necessary surgical operations. The escalating crisis has pushed the limits of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, leaving many in critical condition without the life-saving interventions they desperately need.
The grim statistics continue to rise, with more than 11,000 Palestinians, the majority being women and children, losing their lives since the war’s onset, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. Additionally, about 2,700 individuals are reported missing, presumed trapped or deceased under the rubble, further highlighting the depth of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.
As the international community watches with growing concern, the urgent call for intervention and aid becomes increasingly crucial in the face of this deepening crisis.