Fuel shortage claims lives at Al-Shifa Hospital

Ashraf al-Qudra, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, stated that patients are dying every minute at Al-Shifa Hospital due to a lack of fuel, and that they have been unable to update the death tolls in the Gaza Strip for the past three days due to fuel shortages, internet outages, and other difficulties.

In a statement to an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter, Al-Qudra provided information regarding the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital, where all eyes are turned, in the blockaded Gaza Strip where the Israeli army is increasingly intensifying its ground attacks.

Stating that they have been unable to update the death toll for the last three days because communication with hospitals operating under limited resources and internet outages in Gaza has been completely severed, Al-Qudra denied the Israeli army's claims that "it has not besieged Al-Shifa Hospital and that those who wish to leave can do so safely through the eastern gate."

"It is not even possible to move from one building to another in the hospital"

Al-Qudra said, "Al-Shifa Hospital has been out of service for the last three days due to a power outage. The Israeli army has besieged Al-Shifa Hospital. There are tanks at the eastern and southern exits of the hospital, and they are not allowing entry or exit. The hospital courtyard is being targeted by snipers. It is not even possible to move from one building to another within this medical complex."

"Not even a single baby has been able to be transferred so far"

Pointing to the statement by Israeli Army Spokesperson Daniel Hagari that "they are working with international organizations to transfer babies in incubators in the neonatal ward," Al-Qudra emphasized that they have been waiting for news from international organizations for three days to transfer the babies in incubators in the neonatal ward at Al-Shifa Hospital out of the Gaza Strip, but not even a single baby has been able to be transferred so far.

Pointing out that life-saving medical machines have not been working at the hospital for three days due to the fuel shortage, Al-Qudra said, "Medical machines that save lives cannot operate in the face of the fuel shortage at Al-Shifa Hospital. People are dying every passing minute because we cannot provide health services to the wounded being treated and the patients in the intensive care unit."

A call to the whole world

Drawing attention to the fact that they have been in contact with all multinational institutions and organizations, Al-Qudra noted the following:

"We are reaching out to all international organizations. So far, no solution has been produced for us that is sufficient, feasible, or capable of providing health services to patients in Gaza. We reiterate our call to the whole world to stop the attacks on Gaza and Al-Shifa Hospital so that we can provide health services."

Israeli Army Spokesperson Daniel Hagari had claimed in a press conference he held on Saturday evening that Al-Shifa Hospital was not under siege.

Hagari had claimed that the eastern gate of Al-Shifa Hospital was open for Gazans who wanted to leave.

Claiming that they were speaking directly and regularly with the staff of Al-Shifa Hospital, Hagari had said that "they would help transport the babies in the hospital's pediatric ward to a safer hospital."

News Source: AA