- The Gaza Strip, which hosts about 2.2 million Palestinians, is home to the Hamas militant group which leveled the biggest attack on Israel since 1973.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning on Thursday stating the healthcare system in Gaza was at a “breaking point”
- As Hamas militants went on killing civilians and taking Israeli soldiers hostage, Israeli Defense Forces launched a counterattack against Hamas in Gaza.
- WHO added that the hospitals only had a few hours of electricity every day and were forced to ration fuel reserves which were increasingly depleting.
- Israeli energy minister Israel Katz said on Thursday the country will not allow basic resources including electricity, water, and fuel or humanitarian aid inside the Gaza Strip until Hamas released Israeli hostages.
- Since last Saturday, the WHO has documented 34 attacks on healthcare institutions in Gaza that have left 11 healthcare workers dead and 16 injured. The strikes have damaged 19 health facilities and 20 ambulances
The World Health Organisation has warned that Gaza’s health system is at “a breaking point” and that there is little time to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. In a state WHO said, “Time is running out to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe if fuel and life-saving health and humanitarian supplies cannot be urgently delivered to the Gaza Strip amidst the complete blockade.”
“Hospitals have only a few hours of electricity each day, as they are forced to ration depleting fuel reserves and rely on generators to sustain the most critical functions. Even these functions will have to cease in a few days when fuel stocks are due to run out,” it added. The health body further said that with rising fatalities and injuries owing to the ongoing air strikes on the Gaza Strip, an acute shortage of medical supplies is aggravating the crisis.
Since last Saturday, the WHO has documented 34 attacks on healthcare institutions in Gaza that have left 11 healthcare workers dead and 16 injured. The strikes have damaged 19 health facilities and 20 ambulances.
“WHO also calls for the immediate opening of a humanitarian corridor to ensure unimpeded access for health and humanitarian supplies, as well as for personnel, and the evacuation of patients and the injured,” the statement read.
Yesterday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said hospitals in Gaza are at risk of turning into morgues as continue to remain stripped of resources like electricity, water, and food. “As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk,” ICRC regional director for the Near and Middle East, Fabrizio Carboni, said in a statement.
The death toll in the conflict between Israel and Hamas has now reached 2,800.
Israeli Energy Minister Israel Katz, on the other hand, has announced that Gaza will not get any basic resources until Hamas releases all captives. “Humanitarian aid to Gaza? No electric switch will be turned on, no water tap will be opened and no fuel truck will enter until the Israeli abductees are returned home,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
