In the midst of the ongoing Israeli blockade and airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, doctors at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City are desperately trying to save the lives of newborn babies in their neonatal intensive care unit. The hospital is facing severe shortages of fuel and basic medicines, which are necessary to keep the incubators running and provide essential care to the infants. According to Doctor Nasser Bulbul, if the electricity goes out in the department, where there are 55 babies, they could lose all those who rely on electricity within just five minutes.

The situation is dire, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting 130 newborn babies in electric incubators across the Gaza Strip. The hospital's generators are running out of fuel, and even with the fuel that remains, they don't know how long it will last. They have switched the fuel to the most essential life-saving services, including the incubators, but the uncertainty is alarming. In light of the urgency, Doctor Bulbul and the Gaza health ministry are making a desperate plea to the international community for help. They are calling on everyone to send necessary medical supplies and fuel to prevent a catastrophic loss of lives in the hospitals. They have even reached out to public and private petrol stations in the hope of receiving fuel donations to sustain life-saving services.

The Gaza Strip, already one of the most densely populated places in the world, is facing an acute shortage of water, food, medicines, and fuel for its 2.3 million people. The ongoing conflict and blockade have left the enclave running on empty, and the medics are struggling to keep the hospitals functioning amidst these dire circumstances. The situation is made even more heart-wrenching with the story of a baby orphaned by the bombing. Doctors at the Shifa hospital are waiting for relatives to come forward and name the baby, whose mother Fatima Al-Hersh's house was bombed. While they were able to save the baby's life, they couldn't rescue the mother or the rest of her 11-member family.

The physician treating the baby expressed uncertainty about who will take care of the child once they recover, highlighting the immense challenges that the orphans of this conflict face. The death toll in the Gaza Strip continues to rise, with at least 5,087 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes since the start of the conflict. Tragically, over 2,000 children are included in this staggering number. More than 15,000 people have been wounded, and the UN humanitarian office estimates that 1.4 million of Gaza's population have been internally displaced, seeking refuge in overcrowded emergency shelters.

The Israeli military has been urging Palestinians to move to the southern Gaza Strip for safety, but for hospitals dealing with sick and wounded patients, relocation is not feasible, especially for those on life-saving equipment. The airstrikes have hit various areas across the Gaza Strip, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military states that their strikes are aimed at thwarting the terrorist capabilities of Hamas, but it is difficult to avoid harm to uninvolved civilians as Hamas has entrenched itself among the civilian population throughout Gaza.

As the world witnesses the dire circumstances faced by the people of Gaza, urgent humanitarian support is needed. The international community must respond to the pleas for help from Gaza's medics and take immediate action to provide the essential supplies and assistance needed to save lives. A coordinated effort is necessary to alleviate the suffering and prevent further loss of innocent lives in this devastating conflict.