In a press conference held on Thursday at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, Ashraf Al-Qidra, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, revealed that Israeli strikes have resulted in the death of 17,177 Palestinians in the besieged enclave since October 7.
Shockingly, 350 lives were lost in the past 24 hours alone. Al-Qidra emphasized the critical condition of health services in the northern half of Gaza, where functionality is severely compromised.
During the briefing, Al-Qidra highlighted the urgent efforts to reopen Al Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza City.
Regrettably, the hospital’s director and 36 other health workers remain in detention, having been arrested by Israeli forces during the two-month-long conflict.
The Israeli offensive, initiated in response to a cross-border rampage by Hamas on October 7, has unleashed both aerial and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip.
The toll on the population is staggering, with 46,000 individuals sustaining injuries since the conflict began.
Al-Qidra disclosed that less than 1% of those injured have been evacuated for treatment via the Rafah Crossing to Egypt.
As the situation continues to escalate, the people of Gaza find themselves grappling with not only the immediate impact of the strikes but also the severe strain on their healthcare infrastructure, raising concerns about the ability to provide essential medical care to those in need.
