War-Ravaged Gaza's Healthcare System on the Brink: ICRC Demands Protection for Medical Facilities and Personnel

The healthcare system in war-ravaged Gaza has reached a point of no return, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Teams from the ICRC have recently distributed critical supplies to medical facilities across Gaza, witnessing the devastating effects of the intensified hostilities. The healthcare system, already overstretched and running on thin supplies, is now increasingly unsafe and unable to meet the needs of the population. Hospitals and ambulances have repeatedly come under attack since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted over a month ago.

The ICRC has called for the protection of medical facilities and personnel in Gaza, emphasizing that hospitals are specially protected under international humanitarian law. The destruction inflicted on hospitals, including children's hospitals, is becoming unbearable, and the lives of thousands of civilians, patients, and medical staff are at risk. The Al Shifa hospital, Gaza's largest, has been hit by a recent strike, leading to the deaths of 13 people and overwhelming the facility with both patients and displaced families. Israel launched an offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas fighters crossing the heavily militarized border, resulting in significant casualties and damage.

The ICRC urged any military operation near hospitals to consider the presence of civilians, who are protected under international humanitarian law. The protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers and medical personnel, is not only a legal obligation but a moral imperative in these dire times, the ICRC stressed. The organization's partner, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), has been working tirelessly to continue operating the Al Quds Hospital amid increasing hostilities. The ICRC's call for the protection of medical facilities and workers in Gaza highlights the urgent need to preserve human life and ensure the provision of essential healthcare services in the midst of this devastating conflict.