Gaza’s two largest hospitals, Al-Shifa and Al-Quds, have been forced to suspend operations due to Israeli bombardment, leading to critical shortages of medicine and fuel. The World Health Organization (WHO) has urgently called for an immediate Israel-Gaza ceasefire to prevent a surge in casualties among patients and medical staff. The situation has reached a breaking point, with patients and healthcare workers facing a catastrophic lack of essential resources.
Hospitals in Crisis
Amid escalating tensions, Al-Shifa and Al-Quds hospitals announced on Sunday the suspension of new patient admissions, citing the harsh realities of Israeli bombardment and dwindling supplies. Dr Nidal Abu Hadrous, a neurosurgeon at Al-Shifa, described the situation as “disastrous,” emphasizing the absence of electricity, water, and safe passages for both patients and staff. Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza also had to cease operations due to a depleted generator, compounding the region’s healthcare crisis.
WHO Sounds the Alarm
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has issued a stark warning about the perilous conditions at Al-Shifa Hospital, asserting that it is no longer functioning as a place of healing. He condemned the transformation of hospitals into scenes of “death, devastation, and despair,” emphasizing the urgent need for intervention to save lives. The UN relief agency reported three nurses killed at Al-Shifa Hospital since Friday, adding to the grim toll on medical personnel.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
As power outages persist, Gaza’s health ministry reported twelve patient deaths, including two premature babies. Critical infrastructure, such as the cardiovascular facility and maternity ward, has been severely damaged, posing a significant threat to the vulnerable population. The WHO estimates that 600-650 patients, 200-500 health workers, and around 1,500 internally displaced people remain stranded at Al-Shifa with no safe passage. The dire situation puts 36 babies at risk due to the lack of functional incubators.
Amid these alarming developments, Israeli forces have surrounded medical facilities in the north of Gaza, claiming that Al-Shifa Hospital is situated atop a Hamas command center. However, both Hamas and hospital officials vehemently deny these allegations, asserting that the complex serves solely as a medical facility. Reports indicate direct targeting by Israeli forces, including the use of munitions and snipers, raising concerns about the safety of patients and staff.
Response to Israeli Offer:
On Sunday, Israel’s military claimed to have offered evacuation for newborns and delivered 300 litres of fuel to the hospital entrance. However, Hamas contested these claims, stating that the hospital operates under Gaza’s health ministry, and the fuel offer was merely a propagandist gesture. Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya dismissed Israel’s actions as insufficient, emphasizing that the fuel provided would barely last 30 minutes.
With more than half of Gaza’s hospitals now inoperative due to the intensifying conflict, the humanitarian crisis deepens. The international community faces a pressing need to address the deteriorating situation, with the WHO’s call for an immediate ceasefire echoing as a crucial plea to prevent further loss of life and ensure the delivery of essential medical services. The plight of patients and healthcare workers trapped in a war zone underscores the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
