Israel’s attack on Gaza is reaching the territory’s southern border.
Health care in Gaza is in complete chaos in the middle of the war, say health professionals who have stayed in Gaza.
After the attack by the terrorist organization Hamas in early October, Israel kept the borders of Gaza completely closed. No medical supplies made it across the border, even though fierce fighting was already underway. Even later, there have been very few supplies compared to the great need.
A doctor working at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis Mohammed al-Qidra tells the news agency Reuters that there is also a shortage of basic supplies. For example, saline solution, which is used for example to clean wounds or to revive a person suffering from dehydration, has to be rationed.
The organization “Doctors Without Borders” has forwarded its regional director for Gaza to Leo Cansin voice messages. According to Cans, the situation in Gaza is getting worse every day, as hundreds of wounded people arrive at the hospitals every day, while the conditions of the staff are constantly getting worse.
– We don’t have enough painkillers to give to surgery patients. At the same time, there is also not enough staff who know how to dose the ketamine given to patients. Not everyone can administer painkillers, he says.
The World Health Organization WHO is concerned about the spread of infectious diseases in an area where hygiene cannot be taken care of.
– Inhumane living conditions – a severe lack of drinking water, no clean toilets and no possibility to keep the environment clean – enable the spread of hepatitis A, stated the director of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus message service in X.
WHO says that it has registered 24 hepatitis A cases and thousands of jaundice cases during the day.
Israel invades southern Gaza
Heavy fighting continues in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, and especially in its largest city, Khan Younis. Israel is bombarding Hamas positions with airstrikes and shelling them with artillery and tanks. The infantry are engaged in close combat with Hamas fighters who are still able to defend themselves.
The medical staff criticizes Israel for the fact that attacks are carried out right next to hospitals. According to Israel, Hamas regularly uses hospitals and other civilian targets as bases, and Israeli fire inevitably hits civilians. Hamas has denied Israel’s accusation.
Two-thirds of Gaza’s hospitals have suspended operations. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis is considering closing its trauma unit, which would have serious consequences for treating wounded patients.
South Gaza’s two other hospitals, al-Aqsa and the European Hospital, are considering suspending their operations, says the British The Guardian magazine.
The Israeli leadership says it will continue the operation in Gaza until Hamas is defeated and no longer threatens Israel. Israel also wants to release the estimated 130 hostages that Hamas has been holding for over a hundred days.
Some of the hostages are believed to have died. Israel has opened recently made cemeteries in Gaza in search of signs of hostage burials.
Yesterday, Thursday, a group of relatives of Israeli hostages demonstrated at the Keren Shalom border crossing. They demanded that the Israeli leadership cut off all aid deliveries to Gaza until the hostages are released.
Source: AFP