Escalating Israeli-Hamas conflict cripples Gaza hospitals, leaving lives at risk

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to escalate, the situation in Gaza's hospitals is becoming increasingly dire. Two major hospitals in Gaza have been forced to close their doors to new patients, citing Israeli bombardment, lack of fuel, and lack of medicine as the main reasons. The blockaded hospitals in the north of the Palestinian enclave are struggling to provide essential care to those inside.

As a result, more babies and others are at risk of dying. The largest and second-largest hospitals in Gaza, Al Shifa and Al-Quds, have both announced the suspension of their operations. With half of the territory's hospitals now out of action, there are fewer places for the injured to seek medical help. This has left many families in desperate situations, with no hospital to take their injured loved ones to receive treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern about the situation, acknowledging the dire circumstances in Gaza's hospitals.

The director-general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that the hospitals are not functioning as hospitals anymore. The constant gunfire and bombing exacerbate the already critical circumstances, leading to an increase in patient fatalities. The impact on the hospitals has been devastating. In Al Shifa, the bombing has forced doctors to turn incubators into ordinary beds, leaving premature babies exposed to even more dangers. Tragically, the doctors expect to lose more of these fragile lives day by day. The situation is equally dire in Al-Quds hospital, where staff are struggling to care for patients with limited resources such as medicine, food, and water. Israeli forces claim that they are targeting Hamas militants in the area and that the hospitals should be evacuated.

However, the hospitals refute these claims, stating that there are no command centers under or near their facilities. The tensions between Israel and Hamas have escalated to the point where Hamas has suspended negotiations with Israel over the release of hostages due to the handling of the hospitals. The Israeli military has offered to evacuate newborn babies and provided fuel at the entrance of Shifa hospital. However, these gestures have been blocked, according to the military, by Hamas. The hospitals deny these claims and state that they have not been informed about any mechanism to safely evacuate the babies.

The lack of coordination and communication further exacerbates the already dire situation. The United Nations agencies have expressed horror at the situation, stating that hospitals should be safe havens, but instead, they have turned into scenes of death and devastation. They called on the international community to not remain silent while these atrocities occur. With half of Gaza's hospitals closed and the humanitarian situation worsening, aid deliveries have become crucial.

Aid is being delivered through trucks and even parachuted into the area to reach those in need. The conflict in Gaza has also reignited tensions on Israel's northern border with Lebanon. Israel's military has reported clashes with Hezbollah near the Dovev Barracks, resulting in casualties. The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon stated that one of its members had been wounded by a bullet overnight. As the violence continues to escalate, innocent lives are being lost, and the already fragile healthcare system in Gaza is crumbling. It is imperative for the international community to step in and put an end to this devastating conflict to prevent further suffering and loss of life.