Gaza hospitals; target in IOF aggression amid forced displacement bid
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"Israel" continues to infringe upon the fundamental principles of humanitarian law as the entire world stands idly by.
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Two injured Palestinian children by Israeli occupation airstrikes were transferred to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 11 (AP)
Despite global appeals to protect healthcare facilities from Israeli airstrikes and forced displacement orders, Israeli threats have targeted hospitals in the Gaza Strip, endangering the well-being of patients and the wounded. "Israel" has demanded that al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza forcibly evacuate its patients and staff within a two-hour timeframe, subsequently extending the deadline until 6 am.
In response to the order, the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) rights group issued a statement on the X platform, expressing strong condemnation for the ongoing indiscriminate attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza and underscoring the intricacies involved in the process of forced displacement.
“We unequivocally condemn this action, the continued indiscriminate bloodshed and attacks on health care in Gaza. We are trying to protect our staff and patients,” MSF says. “The evacuation of patients remains complicated.”
🔴BREAKING:
— MSF International (@MSF) October 13, 2023
Israel has given Al Awda Hospital just two hours to evacuate. Our staff are still treating patients.
We unequivocally condemn this action, the continued indiscriminate bloodshed and attacks on health care in Gaza.
We are trying to protect our staff and patients.
Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) called on the Israeli occupation to rescind the order, emphasizing that "the transfer of patients places their lives at direct risk, as well as the lives of healthcare workers."
It is worth noting that al-Awda Hospital has been providing services to Palestinians in the northern region for approximately 20 years and operates under an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Israeli warplanes also conducted airstrikes in the vicinity of the hospital in Tel al-Zaatar, northern Gaza, as part of their attempt to exert pressure on the hospital and expedite the displacement process.
In the same context, al-Durra Children's Hospital in the east of the Gaza Strip was forced to evacuate its staff and patients after it was pounded with white phosphorus munitions.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that the Israeli occupation forces have also ordered the medical teams at al-Quds Hospital to evacuate its staff and patients from the facility in preparation for an impending bombardment.
This situation unfolds as the healthcare system in Gaza faces a severe crisis, marked by dwindling medication supplies and electricity shortages due to the total Israeli blockade.
The ruthless Israeli crimes against #Palestinians resulted in 256 martyrs including 20 children and 1,788 wounded in the past 24 hours only. The Israeli occupation has been dropping #Gaza the equivalent of years of #US bombing in #Afghanistan and #Vietnam.#Palestine… pic.twitter.com/OFclygJj7K
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 14, 2023
Palestinian Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Al Mayadeen, on Thursday, that Gaza is only a few hours away from essential services completely shutting down, and the health sector is in collapse.
"Medicines are dwindling and have almost run out," Al-Qidra said, noting that only life-saving units were operating in Gaza's hospitals due to the existing fuel shortages.
"Entire families from #Gaza have been wiped off the Palestinian civil registry! Entire residential areas and neighborhoods have been wiped out, with families still under the rubble!"
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 12, 2023
- Gaza's Health Ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, to #AlMayadeen. #Palestine pic.twitter.com/jITqxPtagV
"The patients and wounded in Gaza's hospitals are laying on the floor as there are no beds in the ICU units, with patients piling up in front of the operation rooms," the health official added.
According to Al-Qidra, Gaza is experiencing a complete wipeout of its residential areas, with whole families being taken out of the Palestinian civil registry. The health official further noted that there are complete families still under the rubble in Gaza.
As per the Health Ministry's latest toll, over 1900 Palestinians were martyred, including 614 children, and 7696 injured, including 2000 children and 1400 women since the beginning of the Israeli occupation's aggression on Gaza. 256 were martyred, including 20 children, and 1,788 were wounded in the past 24 hours only, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
In a recent report, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh states that an Israeli source said the Israeli occupation was considering a "Leningrad approach" to besiege the #Palestinian Resistance in #Gaza.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 13, 2023
Additionally, #Russian President Vladimir #Putin cautioned "Israel" from… pic.twitter.com/oZsn54zs5c
It is likely that the number of martyrs and wounded will continue to rise, with many people trapped under the rubble, while the humanitarian conditions are extremely difficult amid great pressure facing hospitals, which are at threat of going out of service when they run out of fuel soon.
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