The ongoing war in Gaza has reached a critical point, with the region’s hospitals facing unprecedented challenges. Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, is struggling to stay operational due to a lack of electricity and essential supplies. The hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit is particularly at risk, with 36 babies in danger of dying without power. Israel claims to have delivered fuel to the hospital, but hospital officials and residents dispute these claims, citing ongoing fighting and Israeli sniper fire surrounding the facility.
The hospital has been relying on generators, but its last one ran out of fuel on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of three premature babies and four other patients. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported that there are still 1,500 patients at Shifa Hospital, with 1,500 medical personnel and between 15,000 and 20,000 people seeking shelter. The situation is becoming increasingly dire, with the Medical Aid for Palestinians charity questioning Israel’s ability to evacuate critically ill neonates from the hospital.
The charity has pointed out that the transfer of critically ill patients is a complex process that requires specialized equipment and expertise, and that the ambulances are unable to reach the hospital. Furthermore, there are no other hospitals with the capacity to receive the patients. The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service has reported that another Gaza City hospital, Al-Quds, is no longer operational due to a lack of fuel.
Shifa Hospital
The international community is calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and urging Israel to allow fuel to reach the hospital. The United Nations and other organizations have warned that Gaza’s hospitals are under massive strain, with more than half of them closed. Meanwhile, Egypt has allowed hundreds of foreign passport holders and medical patients to exit through its Rafah crossing, as well as a small amount of humanitarian aid. The war has displaced over two-thirds of Gaza’s population, with most fleeing south.
Gaza’s hospitals are struggling to provide basic medical care, let alone critical care, due to the widespread destruction and lack of resources. The situation is increasingly desperate, with thousands of patients and medical personnel in danger. The international community must act quickly to restore electricity and supplies to Gaza’s hospitals and provide humanitarian aid to the thousands of people affected by the conflict.
