- More than 60% of Gaza’s hospitals and medical centres are now out of service, according to a statement from the Palestinian Authority Minister of Health.
- The Ministry said that 16 of 35 hospitals as well as 51 of 72 medical centres are no longer operational due to the fuel and medical supply shortages as well as the Israeli bombardment.
- The Palestine Red Crescent Society has also issued an urgent appeal to international health and relief organizations to provide aid and supplies to Gaza.
- More than 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive nearly a month ago, the health ministry in the Palestinian enclave confirmed.
- The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) announced on Monday that Israeli attacks have killed a Palestinian child every 10 minutes on average over the past month in Gaza.
- Israel says it is open to Gaza fighting pauses for aid, and hostages.
- Calling for an urgent ceasefire, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children”.
More than 60 per cent of hospitals and medical centres in Gaza are now out of service, the Palestinian Health Ministry said in a statement. Health Minister Mai al-Kaila said 16 of 35 hospitals and 51 of 72 medical centres are no longer operational in the Gaza Strip owing to fuel shortages and Israeli bombardment.
The Palestinian Health Ministry added that the death count in Gaza has risen to 10,000 since Israel launched its counteroffensive against Hamas on October 7. According to the ministry, 70 per cent of those killed in the region are children, women and the elderly. Amid this, the Palestine Red Crescent Society has urged the international community to provide aid and supply to Gaza.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” in fighting to facilitate the entry of aid or the exit of hostages from the Gaza Strip, but again rejected calls for a ceasefire despite international pressure.
Netanyahu said a general ceasefire would hamper his country’s war effort, but pausing fighting for humanitarian reasons, an idea supported by Israel’s top ally the United States, would continue to be considered based on circumstances.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider “tactical little pauses” in fighting to facilitate the entry of aid or the exit of hostages from the Gaza Strip, but again rejected calls for a ceasefire despite international pressure.
Having encircled the densely populated Gaza City in the north of the enclave, where the Hamas Islamist group is based, Israel’s military said it had taken a militant compound and was set to attack fighters hiding in a warren of underground tunnels.
Both Israel and Hamas have rebuffed mounting calls for a halt in fighting. Israel says hostages should be released first. Hamas says it will not free them nor stop fighting while Gaza is under attack. Netanyahu said a general ceasefire would hamper his country’s war effort, but pausing fighting for humanitarian reasons, an idea supported by Israel’s top ally the United States, would continue to be considered based on circumstances. Like Israel, the U.S. fears Hamas would take advantage of a full ceasefire to regroup.
Calling for an urgent ceasefire, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Monday that Gaza is becoming a “graveyard for children”.
(With inputs from agencies)
