GAZA CITY: The health ministry on Friday reported that 24 patients at Gaza’s war-torn Al-Shifa Hospital have died within 48 hours due to power outages, intensifying the already dire humanitarian crisis. As Israeli forces continued their operation within the hospital complex, concerns over fuel shortages disrupting aid deliveries and putting lives at risk of starvation in Gaza escalated.
The situation at Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, is dire, with thousands of people, including wounded patients and premature babies, trapped inside amidst Israeli military operation. The Israeli army’s relentless air and ground campaign, responsible for approximately 11,500 innocent lives lost, including thousands of children and women, has exacerbated the already critical conditions.
Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said, “Twenty-four patients… have died over the last 48 hours” at Al-Shifa Hospital, attributing the deaths to vital medical equipment malfunctioning due to power outages. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) expressed deep concern, noting that fuel shortages have halted aid deliveries, posing a severe threat to the well-being of Gaza’s population.
Extensive Damage to Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital
The ongoing Israeli operation at Al-Shifa Hospital has caused extensive damage to crucial units, including radiology, burns, and dialysis. The United States has urged Israel to exercise caution around Gaza hospitals, emphasizing the importance of protecting civilian lives. However, allegations persist regarding the use of hospitals as command centers by Hamas.
The UNRWA’s inability to manage humanitarian convoys due to telecommunication outages exacerbates the crisis. The deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where more than half of the hospitals are non-functional, demand urgent international attention and intervention.
The UN has warned of a looming humanitarian catastrophe, with over 1.5 million people internally displaced, facing starvation, and lacking access to clean water.
