The Israeli occupation bombs Gaza hospitals, kills medical staff, and prevents medicines from reaching patients (Reuters)

The Israeli occupation forces continue to impose their siege on Al-Amal Hospital in the city of Khan Yunis (southern Gaza Strip) for more than two weeks, which led to the closure of all roads leading to the hospital and deepened the severe health and humanitarian crisis inside.

A report published by The Intercept website stated that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society - which runs the hospital - sounded the alarm over the 18-day siege, as thousands were forced to evacuate the hospital, most of whom were displaced from other parts of Gaza, while hundreds of medical workers and patients remained. The wounded and people with special needs are stuck inside.

The Intercept quoted Salim Aburas (30 years old), a relief coordinator in the Risk and Disaster Management Department at the Palestinian Red Crescent, as saying, “The siege we are experiencing inside the hospital seems like a never-ending nightmare. Although there are wounded and dead people outside the hospital, we are paralyzed and unable to help or help them.” Bury them, as occupation snipers and Israeli aircraft target everyone who leaves the hospital building.”

Stifling siege

The American website explained that the hospital's ability to care for patients has seriously deteriorated due to the continued siege and lack of basic medical supplies, a situation that has become more dangerous due to the lack of drinking water and food.

Aburas - who has been besieged inside the Al-Amal Hospital complex since January 21 - continued, saying, "We face enormous challenges in providing adequate health care services to the wounded, hampered by the restrictions imposed by the occupation on the entry of medical supplies into the hospital."

As for those inside the hospital, communications between them and the outside world have been largely cut off. Aburas added, "The communication blackout was another source of terror, and every person trapped in the hospital knows nothing about his family and loved ones outside the hospital. All we know is that Israeli bombing continues throughout the Gaza Strip."

Aburas said, "Although I lived through 6 Israeli attacks and many escalations, the nature of the injuries that we saw during this genocide of the Gaza Strip is unprecedented, to the point that medical teams are unable to deal with such critical cases."

A war of extermination

He explained that January 30 was the most violent day of the siege that had passed on the hospital, as the Israeli bombing never stopped, sides of the building were destroyed, and the occupation soldiers stormed the hospital grounds, set fire to an area full of tents and ordered the displaced people gathered there to leave.

On February 2, the occupation killed Hedaya Hamad, a 42-year-old Red Crescent employee, who was also buried on the hospital grounds.

Aburas said that Hedaya's killing "broke our hearts. She had an angelic presence, helping everyone and working hard to ensure that the work crews received their share of the meager food supplies. For us, she was like a nurturing mother."

As the siege enters its third week, Aburas said the hospital is at risk of running out of fuel for backup generators and oxygen supplies.

Other challenges include the risk of infection due to overcrowding, lack of supplies, and scarcity of food and milk for children. Some medical staff have been evacuated along with thousands of displaced people who left the hospital earlier this week, leaving fewer health care workers left to care for the wounded.

Source: The Intercept