The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor reported on Friday that the Israeli occupation’s destruction of universities and cultural landmarks in Gaza erases the last signs of life and constitutes an act of genocide. The statement highlighted that over 98 members of the university academic staff, including three university presidents, were killed due to Israeli airstrikes. Six universities in Gaza were destroyed due to the bombing, with three of them completely demolished.
In addition, Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra, the spokesperson for Palestinian Health, shared the latest developments in Gaza, stating that the Israeli forces are still expelling patients and displaced individuals from the largest hospitals in southern Gaza. He emphasized that hospitals and health sectors are facing aggression in violation of all laws, with 150 medical institutions targeted, 30 hospitals, and 53 primary care centers put out of service, including Al-Amal Hospital. A significant number of medical staff, including hospital directors and senior health sector officials, have been killed.
Al-Qudra also mentioned that some individuals are currently facing brutal treatment and torture by the Israeli occupation, which practices racism and has stormed the Nasser Medical Complex, a critical facility in southern Gaza.
The recent Israeli attacks in Gaza have exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation, significantly impacting medical services, food supply, drinking water, and sanitation. Hospitals in Gaza are facing catastrophic shortages of medical supplies, including emergency, trauma, and surgical supplies, with the blockade making the entry of humanitarian supplies nearly impossible. The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals running on backup generators due to a Gaza-wide power outage, placing thousands of patients at immediate risk. Additionally, the closure of several hospitals and the bombing of health facilities have severely limited access to healthcare for the population, including pregnant women and newborns.
The food situation is equally dire, with nearly half a million people unable to access food rations due to the closure of distribution centers. The destruction has also affected agriculture and livestock, further diminishing food availability. Basic supplies such as eggs, bread, and vegetables are in severe shortage, with residents scrambling for available food.
Drinking water has become scarce, with families spending hours searching for water. The reliance on small desalination and water purification plants, mainly operating on solar energy, has been compromised, and some residents have resorted to drinking brackish water from agricultural wells, raising concerns about waterborne diseases.
Sanitation issues have intensified as Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant shut down due to fuel shortages, and sewage and solid waste are accumulating in the streets, posing health and environmental risks. The damage to water and sanitation facilities, water wells, reservoirs, and pumping stations due to airstrikes has further exacerbated the crisis.
