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“Dire” Situation Suspends Operations Of Largest Northern Gaza Hospitals

Two major hospitals in northern Gaza have closed its doors to new patients and suspended operations as they overflow with patients and suffer resource shortages.

Gaza’s largest and second largest hospitals, Al-Shifa and Al-Quds say Israeli forces are blockading the facilities as they struggle to care for existing patients.

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Israel has called for the hospitals to evacuate as it closes in on Hamas, but medical staff sand humanitarian organisations continually say it would be impossible.

Head of surgery at Al-Shifa, Marwan Abu Sada fears babies will lose their lives as the hospital has no access to oxygen supplies or power for incubators.

Thirty-nine babies were transferred from the neonatal unit to another part of the hospital, three of those unable to survive the move.

“The neonatal unit is not connected to the main surgical units within the Al-Shifa medical complex; it was dangerous to go from the main building to get the babies,” Dr Abu Sada said.

“We called the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Israelis just to ensure the passage of the babies from the neonatal ICU to the surgical area.

“We lost the life of one baby today, yesterday we lost two and I am afraid that all of the babies will lose their lives.”

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has restored its communications with Al-Shifa hospital after communication was lost on Saturday.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the hospital’s situation as “dire and perilous”.

“It’s been three days without electricity, without water and with very poor internet which has severely impacted our ability to provide essential care,” he said in a statement posted on X.

“Tragically, the number of patient fatalities has increased significantly.

“Regrettably, the hospital is not functioning as a hospital anymore.”

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