The ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip has endangered the lives of many, including Elias, a little child who is fighting to stay alive after an Israeli airstrike struck his family’s residence. He has been undergoing medical treatment for the past two weeks to treat his injuries.
“My brother’s house was a safe place, but it tragically became a target of Israeli bombings. This resulted in the loss of my brother’s wife, two daughters, and his son. Elias, his son, was found on the roof of a school due to the sheer force of the bombing,” said Awad Abu Shamala, the uncle of Elias.
Israel declared war on Gaza after Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel earlier this month, killing 1,400 people.
According to the latest figure announced by the health authorities of Gaza, at least 5,791 Palestinians, including 2,360 children, have been killed with 704 of them alone in the course of the past 24 hours.
Rudaw's camera crew toured the neonatal and pediatric surgery departments at the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza Strip, where the lives of 140 wounded and ill individuals, many of whom rely on respirators, face imminent danger due to the deteriorating health crisis.
“In the nursery department at Nasser Medical Complex, we specialize in caring for premature babies. Our entire department relies on a steady supply of electricity, fuel, and oxygen,” said Assad Al-Nawajha, head of the nursery department at the Nasser Medical Complex.
“All of our equipment and devices are dependent on electricity, and any power outage severely hampers the functioning and services provided by this department,” Nawajha added.
In its report, the Palestinian health ministry said that the Israeli bombings have resulted in the resignations of 57 medical personnel, the destruction of 25 ambulances, and the closure of 12 hospitals and 32 health centers.
“One of the problems we face is the shortage of fuel in all Gaza Strip hospitals, which has a detrimental impact on our services. If the fuel supply is exhausted, it would result in a loss of life for all patients relying on ventilators,” said Mohammed Abed, head of the childcare department.
According to a UN report, Israeli airstrikes have destroyed 30 percent of the housing units in the Gaza Strip.
The UN’s Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has warned of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe as people who have taken refuge in schools continue to be unable to access food, water, and medicine.
