For the 69th consecutive day, the Israeli occupation’s massive carnage continues to claim more lives in the Gaza Strip as its army persists in bombing homes and buildings and targeting civilians.
The death toll from Israeli bombardments in the Gaza Strip has risen to over 18,608 victims, the Palestinian Health Ministry revealed.
50,594 people have also been injured since the start of the Israeli aggression.
According to the health authorities, the Israeli occupation committed, over the last hours, 16 massacres across the Gaza Strip, including alleged safe zones, which resulted in the killing of at least 196 civilians and the injury of 499 others.
The ministry pointed out that there are a large number of victims still being buried under the rubble of homes or lying on roads.
It indicated that 300 health personnel were killed during the Israeli attacks, while hundreds more were injured.
The Israeli occupation deliberately targeted 137 medical facilities, put 22 hospitals and 46 primary care centres out of service, and destroyed 102 ambulances, the health ministry estimated.
The health ministry pointed out that Israel is still detaining 38 health personnel from the Gaza Strip in inhumane conditions, including the Director General of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salmiya.
The health ministry also affirmed that the Israeli occupation continued to detain the Kamal Adwan Hospital medical staff, including the hospital director, Dr. Ahmed Al-Kahlot and subject them to severe torture and abuse, which included deprivation of food and water.
Some of those detained were later released. However, the Israeli forces opened fire at them shortly after their release, injuring five.
Meanwhile, the health ministry pointed out that the patients and civilians inside the Kamal Adwan Hospital, which is under Israeli siege and attack, are deprived of water, food, and electricity, expressing concern over the fate of 12 infants in care units who were left on their own without milk or medical equipment.
The health authorities also added that the Israeli forces tightened the siege on Al Awda Hospital, amid fears of the Kamal Adwan Hospital scenario.
“We are having to choose between cases in order to save the lives of those who can be saved from the large number of patients arriving at hospitals in the south due to the intolerable health situation in hospitals in southern Gaza. We have also lost the ability to absorb and treat more patients.”
“Vaccinations for children have run out completely, which will have catastrophic health effects on children and the spread of diseases, especially among the displaced in overcrowded shelter centres,” the ministry said, calling on international organisations to act swiftly to ensure that the children receive the required shots and that they have access to all areas of the Gaza Strip in order to avert the catastrophe.
327,000 cases of infectious diseases were reported in shelter centres, the ministry added, confirming that the number is much higher.
The Palestinian Health Ministry called on all institutions to “work immediately to provide medicine and fuel supplies needed to operate the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, and to establish field hospitals all over the Gaza Strip.
Since Oct. 7, the Israeli occupation army launched a bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip, causing a severe humanitarian and health catastrophe.
The Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip constitutes a blatant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law as it exposes civilians’ lives to extreme danger, which requires immediate international intervention.
The international community must force the Israeli occupation forces to abide by international human rights and humanitarian laws, mainly protecting the rights and lives of civilians, prohibiting their targeting and preserving their safety, and holding the Israeli leaders accountable for committing war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
