DaysofPal- Dr. Mohamed Abu Salmiya, director of Shifa Hospital, stated that the hospital’s medical teams are unable to manage the overwhelming number of wounded civilians due to the intense Israeli airstrikes and bombardment.
In a statement on Tuesday, Abu Salmiya emphasized that large quantities of medical supplies had been depleted because of the severe Israeli blockade on Gaza. “The healthcare system cannot handle the growing number of injured citizens, and we are facing a shortage of medicines due to the closure of the crossings,” he said.
He described the ongoing situation as a “full-fledged crime committed by the occupation” and warned that the death toll could double in the coming hours, as hospitals are unable to accommodate the increasing number of casualties. He added that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with every passing minute seeing “a wounded person die because of the severe shortage of medical resources.”
Abu Salmiya noted that many children have suffered severe injuries, such as amputations and burns, which require intensive care that is unavailable. “These are lives that could have been saved with even minimal medical resources,” he stressed.
The director confirmed that Gaza’s hospitals, particularly in the northern parts of the Strip, are now down to just four intensive care beds, far fewer than needed for the growing number of critically injured individuals. The lack of necessary medical supplies, medicines, and equipment is causing the death toll to rise, as thousands of wounded people, many in critical condition, are not receiving the care they urgently need.
Abu Salmiya described the tragic situation where doctors are unable to save patients in need of surgery due to the lack of essential equipment and medications. Despite repeated appeals from the World Health Organization, the Red Cross, and Doctors Without Borders, Gaza’s crossings have remained closed for over 15 days, preventing the arrival of medical supplies or international rescue teams.
According to him, hospitals in Gaza have been totally depleted of supplies, making the situation there even more dire than it was in the early days of the October 2023 war, with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, no longer receiving treatment, as hospitals prioritize the care of the wounded.
At least 410 people have been killed in the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes across Gaza, with the death toll expected to rise as many are still under rubble or in critical condition.
The strikes targeted several areas, including the Maghazi refugee camp, Khan Yunis, Rafah, and a school in the Daraj neighborhood, killing 25 people, including women and children who had sought shelter there.
The Israeli army, which has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, also issued new forced displacement orders for several areas.
The Hamas Movement described the Israeli airstrikes as a “treacherous” attack on defenseless civilians, intended to break the ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
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