Israeli Attacks in Gaza Claim Lives as Hospitals Struggle Amid Crisis
Israeli military actions in southern Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least five Palestinians and injuries to dozens more, as reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The attacks on Rafah and Khan Younis on Monday have caused significant casualties, with at least 30 individuals wounded.
Emergency Medical Response Hampered by Power Outages
The injured have been transported to the Nasser Medical Complex, where ongoing electricity shortages threaten the ability to provide necessary treatment. Palestinian officials reported that 40 bodies have arrived at hospitals in the last 24 hours. Since the conflict began on October 7, the death toll in Gaza has reached 37,124, with over 84,700 injured. Thousands more are believed to be buried under rubble across the war-torn area.
In Rafah, a city on Gaza’s southern edge, Israeli ground offensives have intensified. On Monday, tanks advanced towards the north, nearing the densely populated Shaboura neighborhood. The Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, claimed responsibility for an attack on Israeli forces, stating that they detonated explosives in a booby-trapped house, causing casualties among Israeli soldiers.
Read More:Four Hostages Freed in Bold IDF Raid Amid Gaza Conflict
Strain on Medical Facilities and Aid Resources
Gaza’s hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties amid severe shortages. Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary, reporting from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospitals in Deir el-Balah, noted that an additional emergency department was opened to manage the large number of injured patients. The Hospitals , operating on a single generator, is overwhelmed, conducting surgeries on an “hourly basis.”
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) highlighted the extensive destruction in Gaza, with more than half of the buildings damaged or destroyed since the conflict’s onset. UNRWA described the devastation as “indescribable,” stressing that recovery from the physical and psychological impacts will take years.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) condemned the closure of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, warning of “imminent acute levels of famine.” The PRCS emphasized that this act of collective punishment exacerbates the dire humanitarian conditions and violates international humanitarian laws.
Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary reported that food shortages are severe, with many Gazans eating only one meal per day. Markets are largely empty, and what little food is available is unaffordable for most residents.
Also Read More:At least five killed in Israeli attacks as Gaza hospitals appeal for help
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced a halt to Gaza aid deliveries via a US-built pier due to safety concerns. Gaza’s Government Media Office criticized the pier’s effectiveness, noting that it has failed to significantly alleviate the humanitarian crisis, as only a limited number of aid trucks have been able to pass through.
As the conflict continues, the call for a ceasefire grows louder. UNRWA and other humanitarian organizations stress the urgent need for an end to the suffering and a return to peace.