Hospitals in Gaza City and northern Gaza are in their final “critical hours” and are expected to be completely out of service due to a lack of fuel and “direct and intentional targeting”, media office says of the government.
The number of hospitals put out of service since the start of the Israeli offensive stands at 21.
As attacks around Al-Shifa Hospital intensified, the director of Gaza’s largest medical facility, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, told Al Jazeera: “Today was a day of war against hospitals.”
The government called for the “urgent, immediate and permanent” opening of the Rafah border crossing, through which aid and medical supplies can flow to hospitals and various relief centers. He also called for much-needed fuel so hospitals can continue to operate and provide health services to the thousands in need.
“We hold the Israeli occupation and the international community, especially the United States, fully responsible” for crimes committed against “defenseless” Palestinians in Gaza, the media office added.
Gaza’s health ministry says the number of Palestinians killed since October 7 stands at 11,078, including at least 4,506 children.