As Israel continues to advance its offensive against Hamas in Gaza City, the city's hospitals and other medical facilities have become embroiled in the violent conflict.
The Al-Shifa Hospital, which is Gaza's main hospital and where thousands of people are said to be trapped as a result of adjacent hostilities, has been the centre of attention; however, other hospitals have reported a lack of supplies and power as a result of the fighting.
Gaza hospitals caught on front line of Israel-Hamas war
Israel has stated that it is not deliberately targeting any hospitals, although it has acknowledged that “clashes” have occurred near Al-Shifa and other medical institutions.
Since the beginning of the war on October 7, 36 healthcare institutions, including 22 hospitals, have been damaged, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Only a select few of these facilities are currently functioning normally.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Sunday that the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, which was the largest hospital in the region with 700 beds, had stopped functioning and that the situation inside was “grim and dangerous.”
The streets in the surrounding area are currently being used as a battleground between Hamas and Israeli forces. The United Nations reports that there has been damage done to essential infrastructure.
Israel claims that Hamas fighters are operating in tunnels underneath the hospital, but Hamas has denied that this is the case.
Staff inside claim it is difficult to exit without risking injury or death.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is the director general of the WHO, stated on X that “constant gunfire and bombings in the area have exacerbated the already critical circumstances.”
There is no food and no gasoline to run the generators, according to many accounts coming from inside. There are a few crucial systems that use solar energy now.
