137 Gaza health facility attacked, 521 killed in 36 days: WHO

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Nov 2023 19:45

Hospitals in the Gaza Strip are struggling, with over half closed and those operational facing immense strain, only able to offer limited emergency, critical surgery, and intensive care services.

Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in the hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023. ( AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

The World Health Organization (WHO), UN Children's Fund, and the UN Population Fund reported that over the last 36 days, there was a total of 137 attacks on healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 521 fatalities.

"Over the past 36 days, WHO has recorded at least 137 attacks on health care in Gaza, resulting in 521 deaths and 686 injuries, including 16 deaths and 38 injuries of health workers on duty," the statement read.

"More than half of the hospitals in the Gaza Strip are closed. Those still functioning are under massive strain and can only provide very limited emergency services, lifesaving surgery and intensive care services," the statement added, noting that water, food, and fuel shortages are increasinlgy posing a security threat to "the wellbeing of thousands of displaced people, including women and children, who are sheltering in hospitals and their surrounds."

"Israel" is deliberately targeting hospitals as well as doctors saving people's lives in the #Gaza Strip, killing any means of survival for Gazans amid the ongoing savage aggression.#GazaGenocide #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/adYPc5AwTY
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 12, 2023

Earlier today, Hamas announced that it halted negotiations over a prisoner swap deal due to the IOF's continuous aggression on Al-Shifa hospital.

The New York Times reported a week ago, citing officials, that negotiations were underway between "Israel" and Hamas. These discussions involved two proposals regarding the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip, one of which included potentially freeing 100 or more civilians.

But in the following days, Gaza's hospitals which are housing thousands of displaced Palestinians were struck multiple times by the IOF.

Despite efforts to evacuate hospitals, several people have been martyred and a number has sustained injuries.

The IOF denied surrounding or targeting hospitals but several videos circulating on social media have shown otherwise.

Tanks can be seen from the windows of Al-Rantisi Hospital pic.twitter.com/8etJ0i0aN1
— Muhammad Smiry 🇵🇸 (@MuhammadSmiry) November 10, 2023

On another note, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Ashraf al-Qudra, confirmed today that the Israeli occupation is targeting everything moving around Al-Shifa Hospital.

Al-Qudra added that the Israeli occupation has turned Al-Shifa Hospital into "an open war zone," describing the situation as "catastrophic".

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health reported that two premature infants and an ICU patient died after the hospital had completely lost power as the last generator ran out of fuel, expecting more to die unless action is taken.

"The intensive care unit, pediatric department, and oxygen devices have stopped working," al-Qudra said.