GAZA CITY: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that ongoing hostilities in and around hospitals in northern Gaza have severely compromised the healthcare system, placing civilians at significant risk due to restricted access to essential medical services.

According to Qatar News Agency, the ICRC emphasized in a press release that hospitals serve as crucial lifelines for the injured and ill during conflicts. Currently, Al Awda Hospital, previously supported by the ICRC with supplies, remains under immense strain as one of the few operational medical facilities in northern Gaza. The organization highlighted that Kamal Adwan Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital have been rendered completely non-functional. For months, these facilities have faced challenges in providing care amid ongoing conflicts that have damaged infrastructure and posed threats to medical staff, patients, and civilians.

The ICRC underscored that the medical needs of patients are increasingly unmet, and the influx of patients, their families, and displaced individuals seeking refuge has overwhelmed medical workers. This dire situation is exacerbated by a critical shortage of medical equipment, supplies, fuel, food, and specialized healthcare personnel, a shortage persisting for over a year.

Reaffirming its call for the protection of medical facilities under international humanitarian law, the ICRC stated that safeguarding these institutions is not only a legal duty but also a moral necessity to protect human life. The organization reiterated its commitment to supporting healthcare services and ensuring the safety of medical teams and civilians seeking medical care, as well as facilitating the movement of medical personnel and supplies.

The report also detailed recent escalations by Israeli occupation forces targeting the remaining functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip. An attack on Al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of seven citizens, while artillery fire on the Baptist Hospital caused structural damage. Additionally, Kamal Adwan Hospital was destroyed and left out of service following a siege that prevented the delivery of medical supplies and led to the arrest of several staff members, including the hospital director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. Some staff members also lost their lives in the conflict.