In a press release issued by the Gaza Ministry of Health on Sunday the Ministry announced that five hospitals have stopped functioning. The Beit Hanoun Hospital Durha Pediatric Hospital Al Karama Hospital Al Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital and Patient’s Friends Hospital were all completely shut down while three others are partially out of service.
Gaza has suffered from severe shortages of critical medications disposable medical equipment and fuel due to the 17-year Israeli blockade. Now the impacts of the Israeli aggression have critically deteriorated supplies and equipment deepening the crisis as conditions in Gaza continue to worsen.
Sitting on the ground holding his wounded 4-year-old daughter and administering her an IV in Al-Aqsa hospital Ayman Asad said “They are not only bombing us in our homes but aggravate our lives by banning our basic human rights.” Looking around at the hospital where he was taking refuge he continued “I thank Allah that I found a place on the ground to help treat my daughter who is the only survivor from my family.” He also cautioned that he is afraid that no space remains in the hospital to take on more wounded patients.
The situation in Gaza’s hospitals is catastrophic: the huge number of wounded people far exceeds the number of beds available pushing the Ministry of Health to erect medical tents which were quickly filled compelling people to take to the hospitals’ floors to sit and receive treatment. As hospital morgues overflowed the hospitals had to resort to using ice cream freezer trucks to store the bodies of those massacred by the Israeli occupation forces. However the space in the trucks was inadequate to meet the need so mass graves have been dug to bury dozens of bodies at once. Many bodies remain unidentified.
Doctors in Gaza hospitals have warned that 130 premature babies are in &ldquoimminent danger&rdquo due to the ongoing Israeli prevention of fuel entering into Gaza.
Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders has warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is &ldquofacing collapse.&rdquo The international medical organization said that Gaza’s hospitals were &ldquooverwhelmed and lacking resources.&rdquo
Israeli airstrikes on health personnel and facilities
In addition to the Israeli occupation’s embargo on fuel and medicine that help keep the hospitals in operation Israeli airstrikes have murdered at least 45 medical personnel and injured at least 85 more in direct attacks on ambulances hospitals and other health facilities across Gaza.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qedra spokesperson for the Gaza Ministry of Health announced &ldquo3 ambulances were damaged and decommissioned due to Israeli direct attacks.”
He further confirmed that the Ministry of Health is working to keep hemodialysis sections internal medicine normal labor and delivery cesarean section operations oncology services vaccination and other important services in operation in parallel with the treatment of the wounded in the Israeli airstrikes with the limited available capabilities.
Several hospitals in Gaza received warning from the Israeli occupation authorities to evacuate as the Israeli Air Force had declared that these hospitals are to be bombed. Some have chosen to evacuate while others refused as the evacuations mean death to thousands of wounded people particularly those in intensive care. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said that Al-Quds Hospital had received Israeli threats to bomb the hospital which constitute a death sentence to at least 400 patients in the hospital and further displacement for more than 12000 people seeking refuge in it. The displaced people are scared that they would meet the same fate of Al-Ahli hospital where 500 Palestinians were massacred in an Israeli air raid on it. Yet they refused to leave as there is no way to leave and nowhere to go.
Humanitarian aid convoy
A convoy of 20 aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip through Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing on Saturday after days of delay. The arbitrary conditions causing delays further pressure the population instead of provide relief.
The minimal aid is barely a fraction of what is needed in Gaza where civilian infrastructure is devastated and collapsing under the deadly Israeli strikes.
Dr. Ashraf Al-Qedra noted that the humanitarian aid convoy will not relieve the aggravated and devastated humanitarian situation in Gaza. Al-Qedra explained “We affirm that the aid convoy that entered Gaza yesterday consisting of 20 trucks some loaded with water canned goods and a few with medications and medical supplies is far less than the needs of the Gaza Strip under normal circumstances. Typically more than 500 trucks loaded with various necessities would enter the Strip daily.&rdquo
The limited humanitarian aid being conditionally offered to the people of Gaza is not intended to provide aid to the whole of Gaza or lead to an end of the assault but instead has only been offered to the southern areas of the Gaza Strip a step that was condemned by Palestinians as it helps the Israeli plan to evacuate the northern areas of the Gaza Strip. Ministry officials have called it &ldquoa drop in the sea&rdquo compared to what is needed in the besieged enclave.
