Tel Aviv
The Ministry of Health in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, issued a stark warning on Tuesday about the deteriorating conditions in southern Gaza hospitals, characterizing the situation as catastrophic. This comes amidst the ongoing conflict in the besieged enclave, where the Israeli occupation forces are alleged to have committed 16 massacres and genocidal crimes within the past 24 hours. Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra reported the bombing of the Nasser Medical Complex and the tragic death of 13-year-old Donia Abu Mohsen during an Israeli strike while receiving treatment. Within the same timeframe, 151 bodies and 313 injured individuals were brought to the hospital. Al-Qudra also claimed that Israeli forces conducted a massacre in Al-Shifa Hospital, resulting in the death of 26 displaced individuals within just six hours. The spokesman further accused Israeli forces of targeting a civilian car transporting a wounded person in front of the Al-Shifa Hospital gate, causing two more casualties. Allegations were made that the Israeli occupation forces intentionally destabilize the health infrastructure in northern Gaza by destroying hospitals and arresting their staff. As a consequence, hundreds of thousands of individuals in northern Gaza, including the injured, pregnant women, children, and chronic patients, are reportedly without access to medical services. The Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis faced two attacks in less than 12 hours, and operating rooms in southern Gaza hospitals are overwhelmed, unable to cope with the large numbers of critical, dangerous, and complex injuries, leading to potential loss of lives as patients wait. The Ministry urgently appealed to international institutions for immediate action, seeking assistance in providing medicines, medical consumables, fuel, and specialized medical teams. It was also reported that Israeli forces have arrested 93 health personnel, including hospital directors, in northern Gaza. Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, the Health Ministry recorded at least 19,453 Palestinian deaths in Gaza, with 70 percent of the fatalities comprising women and children. Additionally, a total of 52,286 Palestinians have been injured, and many others remain unaccounted for, presumably buried under the rubble.
