International media have reported, citing Palestinian officials, that due to a lack of facilities and fuel supplies, the operations of “Al-Shifa” and “Al-Quds” hospitals, which were the primary centres for treating thousands of wounded men, women, and children in Gaza, have been halted.
On Monday, Reuter’s news agency reported that these hospitals had ceased operations due to fuel, food, water, and electricity shortages.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated in a report that there was no safe way out of Al-Shifa Hospital, putting the lives of thousands at risk due to the lack of facilities. The organization emphasized that healthcare facilities should not be targets of war and pointed out that approximately 600 to 650 patients, around 500 healthcare workers, and 1,500 internally displaced persons are currently in this hospital.
On the other hand, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, claimed that Hamas had rejected their offer to send sufficient fuel to resume operations at Al-Shifa hospital. He added, “We do not quarrel with hospitals or non-combatant casualties.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, responded to reports of infant deaths at Al-Shifa Hospital, stating that they have been in discussions with the hospital’s administrators for the “safe transfer of patients and wounded.”
According to the latest reports from Gaza authorities, since the start of hostilities, 11,180 Palestinians have lost their lives, with the majority being women and children.
Amid these developments, regional directors of the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization issued a joint statement calling for immediate actions to halt attacks on healthcare facilities and non-combatants.
According to the statement, in the past 36 days, the World Health Organization has documented 137 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, resulting in 521 fatalities and 686 injuries.
