Death toll from Israeli attacks rises to 19,453
Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, provided information regarding Israel's ongoing attacks, which have continued for 73 days, in a written statement.
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Emphasizing that Israeli forces have committed massacres in all regions of Gaza over the past days and hours, Qudra stated that the number of Palestinians killed in the attacks since October 7 has risen to 19,453, including at least 8,000 children and 6,200 women, while the number of injured has reached 52,286.
Qudra noted that Israeli forces committed a massacre at Al-Shifa Hospital today, causing the deaths of 26 displaced persons and injuring dozens, and subsequently targeted a civilian vehicle in front of the hospital gate, resulting in the deaths of two injured individuals inside.
Pointing out that the Israeli army aims to dismantle the healthcare system in the northern Gaza Strip by attacking hospitals and detaining healthcare workers, Qudra stated that this amounts to the "execution" of approximately 800,000 people living there.
Stressing that thousands of wounded, sick, children, and pregnant women in northern Gaza are unable to receive healthcare services, Qudra expressed that the international community, by remaining silent on these crimes committed in hospitals, has given a green light for the same crimes to be committed in southern Gaza, and that the attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis yesterday clearly demonstrates this.
"22 HOSPITALS ARE OUT OF SERVICE"
Qudra reported that many people have lost their lives due to extreme overcrowding in the operating rooms of hospitals in the south and the lack of facilities to treat severe injuries.
Spokesperson Qudra also shared the information that Israeli forces continue to detain 93 healthcare workers, most notably Al-Shifa Hospital General Director Muhammad Abu Salmiya, Kamal Adwan Hospital Director Ahmed al-Kahlout, and Al-Awda Hospital Director Ahmed Muhanna, under inhumane conditions.
Noting that 310 healthcare personnel have been killed and 22 hospitals have been rendered out of service in Israeli attacks, Qudra drew attention to the fact that 5,000 injured people urgently need to be taken abroad for treatment.
Pointing out that the situation in shelters is catastrophic due to the spread of epidemic diseases, malnutrition, lack of drinking water and personal hygiene, and the inadequacy of health services, Qudra stated that they have detected 350,000 cases of infectious diseases in these centers and estimated that the actual number could be even higher.