November 12, 2023
For the third consecutive day Israeli fighter jets and artillery of the occupying Israeli army bombed the Al-Shifa Medical Complex west of Gaza City.
Palestinian Health Minister Mai Alkaila reported on Sunday that Israeli occupation forces are committing atrocities against hospitals in the Gaza Strip, in particular Al-Shifa Medical Complex, which is now surrounded by tanks from all directions. For the thirds consecutive day Israeli fighter jets and artillery of the occupying Israeli army have bombed the Al-Shifa Medical Complex west of Gaza City.
In a press release, Alkaila noted that “Israeli occupation forces are not evacuating people from hospitals; instead, they are forcibly evicting the wounded and patients to the streets, leaving them to face inevitable death.”
“This is not an evacuation but an expulsion under threat of arms,” he maintained. On the other hand, the Strip’s deputy health minister said Sunday that an Israeli bombardment destroyed the cardiology service building of Al Shifa hospital, the largest in the Palestinian territory.
“The occupier (Israel) completely destroyed the cardiology department of Al Shifa hospital (…) The two-story building was completely destroyed in an airstrike,” Youssef Abu Rish said.
Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP) reports that, “Staff moving between buildings of Al Shifa have been shot at and critically wounded,” said MAP, which is calling for a cease-fire. “Those who have tried to flee have come under fire, and lie dead or wounded in the street as rescue is impossible. With the mortuary shut down, a hundred bodies are piled up and cannot be buried.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross announced that there are difficulties in evacuating the Medical Complex, which has more than 60 patients in intensive care, 37 babies in the premature and incubation departments, and more than 500 patients in the dialysis departments.
According to the Gazan minister: “A catastrophe is taking place in the hospitals: there are now patients dying without treatment, like children and adults with kidney failure dying at home without undergoing dialysis sessions.
The Minister of Health confirmed the tragic death of 12 patients, including two newborns, inside Al-Shifa Medical Complex so far as a result of power outages and shortages of medical supplies.
He stressed that the 3,000 cancer patients who were receiving treatment in Rantisi and Turkish hospitals have been left to face imminent death following their forced eviction from these hospitals by Israeli occupation forces.
“All pregnant women, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, are now in imminent danger as they cannot find anyone to provide them with medical care and services in Gaza. No woman about to give birth will find medical assistance,” Alkaila warned.
He further explained that patients and the wounded are unable to reach the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, causing many to lose their lives either due to hemorrhage or lack of essential medicines and necessary treatments.
Alkaila also highlighted the critical situation inside Al-Shifa Complex, where medical teams are unable to move between sections and buildings due to constant drone fire threatening anyone inside the complex.
“Another danger threatening the lives of patients is the inability of medical teams to bury 100 martyrs, whose bodies have begun to decompose in the hospital courtyard. Stray dogs have reportedly attacked some of the bodies and medical waste is accumulating inside the hospital,” she added.
Alkaila continued, “Patients are being injured again while lying in hospital beds as a result of the shelling of the occupation of the medical complex. This shelling has affected the water wells, oxygen stations, the main gate of the complex and other facilities.”
He went on to warn that the wounded, patients and medical teams not only lack proper medical care but also have nothing to eat. In addition, water is cut off in the complex.
He stressed that the solution now lies in supplying the medical complex with electricity, medical supplies, medicines and fuel. Otherwise, a safe evacuation of patients for treatment in Egypt is necessary, as Gaza’s hospitals can no longer accommodate any more wounded.
Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza suspends all operations amid tight Israeli siege
Separately, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) announced that its Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City has ceased all operations as a result of fuel shortages and the resulting power outage, amid a tight Israeli military siege.
In a press release, the Palestine Red Crescent Society expressed its deep concern over the dire humanitarian conditions inside the hospital, saying that its medical teams are making maximum efforts to provide medical care to the patients and wounded even through traditional means. Meanwhile the hospital is dealing with severe shortages of medical supplies, food and water.
Source: Telesur translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English