Image Credits - Al Jazeera
Amidst the devastating Israeli attacks on Gaza, hospitals and healthcare facilities in the besieged territory are facing an unprecedented medical crisis, with sick and wounded Palestinians dying by the hour due to a lack of treatment and supplies, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
In a desperate appeal, the ministry stated, “The wounded and sick suffer a slow death because there is no treatment and supplies, and there is no possibility for them to travel.” The situation has become so dire that Gaza’s only dialysis centre has been forced to close its doors.
The ministry launched an urgent humanitarian plea, calling for pressure and immediate action to save lives. “We appeal for urgent action to save the lives of these sick and wounded people, open the crossings, and allow the necessary medical and relief trucks to enter the hospitals,” they said.
The medical crisis in Gaza has been exacerbated by the ongoing closure of border crossings by Israeli authorities, preventing the entry of essential medical supplies and the evacuation of critically ill patients to better-equipped facilities outside the Strip.
As the conflict enters its 32nd day, the death toll in Gaza continues to mount, with at least 34,904 Palestinians killed and 78,514 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, according to the latest figures. The situation has forced tens of thousands of displaced, terrified, and exhausted Gazans to flee their homes in Rafah as Israel shells the eastern area of the overcrowded city.
On the other side, the death toll in Israel from Hamas’s rocket attacks stands at 1,139, with dozens of people still held captive by the militant group.
International humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to allow the delivery of essential aid and medical supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip.
As the crisis deepens, the plight of sick and wounded Palestinians trapped in Gaza remains a grave concern, with their lives hanging in the balance as the conflict rages on.