Gaza Genocide: Doctors urge international community to intervene as healthcare system is collapsing

*Gaza medical doctors have cried out for the immediate intervention of the world community in the ongoing Isreali-Hamas War, as thousands of displaced, injured people, medics, and children are currently holed up in Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, which Israel claims is ‘a Hamas command centre’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As airstrikes and land bombardments intensify in Northern Gaza City, the Israeli forces are closing in on Al-Shifa Hospital,  trapping several thousands, including medical doctors, injured and displaced people as well as children.

ConsumerConnect reports as the Israel-Hamas War continues with thousands of escaping for dear lives on foot to the South of Gaza, the United Nations (UN) has described the agonising situation as “hell on earth”.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO

The war, as of Morning Saturday, November 11, 2023, has claimed over 11,078 lives with more than 27,000 people injured since the Israeli military campaign commenced October 7 this year, agency report said.

Why Israeli forces are targeting Al-Shifa, other health facilities in Gaza

It was gathered that thousands of people are currently holed up in Al-Shifa Hospital generally regarded as the Gaza’s largest hospital, which Israel claims is a Hamas command centre.

Israeli forces had fully encircled the Al-Shifa Hospital as of early Saturday morning, preventing ambulances from entering or leaving the facility, where medical supplies and food are running low amid minimal fuel supply and power cut.

“They are attacking and destroying the front gates of the main medical complex in the Gaza Strip as patients and thousands of Palestinians are still residing inside the yard of this hospital.

“Those people are really trapped right now by Israeli forces who are stationed in different sectors encircling the entire place.

“They are no longer able to move ambulances to bring victims and wounded people from the areas targeted. People are trapped and they lack food,” Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said.

However, as Israel has claimed the hospital is used by Hamas as a command centre, both the Al-Shifa staff and the armed group have denied the allegation.

The correspondent as well said that Israeli snipers and artillery were also targeting anyone moving outside the hospital.

Muhammad Abu Salmiya, Al-Shifa Director, who also described the area around the hospital as a “battlefield”, but said the hospital’s staff have pledged to stay with patients until the “last moment.”

“We will not leave, because we know if we leave the hospital, dozens of patients will die,” report said.

Earlier, the escalating bombardment came after an Israeli strike on the Al-Shifa Hospital early Friday, November 10 killed at least 13 people and wounded several others, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-governed enclave.

Health officials said later Friday that Israeli tanks were closing in on at least four hospitals in northern Gaza from all directions.

However, as of Saturday morning, Israeli forces have fully encircled Al-Shifa Hospital with snippers and artillery.

Meanwhile, Marwan Jilani, Director-General of the Palestine Red Crescent Society, has condemned Israel for attacking hospitals at the UN Security Council in New York, United States (US).

Jilani disclosed that “displaced people at the hospitals are getting shot at as we speak.

“They are asking, ‘What can we do? Where can we go?’ Thousands of innocent lives are under imminent threat.”

WHO very concerned about safety of patients, health workers, others: Dr. T.A. Ghebreyesus, Director-General

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), in a tweet on X, formerly called Twitter, also echoed his concern, and said that he was “extremely disturbed” by the situation at the Al-Shifa Hospital.

“Many of the thousands sheltering at the hospital are forced to evacuate due to security risks, while many still remain there.”

Ghebreyesus remarked at, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 10, 2023, that “WHO is very concerned about the safety of patients, health workers and those sheltering in hospitals. They need immediate protection.”

He further stated: “We are extremely disturbed by reports of airstrikes in the vicinity of Al-Shifa hospital in #Gaza.

“Many health workers we were in contact with have been forced to leave the hospital in search of safety.

“Others report being unable to move due to grave insecurity.

The WHO has confirmed that half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are not functioning and two-thirds of its primary care facilities are out of commission amid the fighting.

At least 11,078 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to Palestinian health officials.

Over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Hamas in the armed group’s surprise attacks on Israel October 7, according to Israeli officials.

Kindly Share This Story