- Title: Gaza hospitals overwhelmed by casualties and lack of resources
- Date: 20th March 2025
- Summary: KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA (MARCH 20, 2025) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF NASSER HOSPITAL BUILDING AMBULANCE PALESTINIANS WALKING NEAR THE HOSPITAL PEOPLE AT THE HOSPITAL'S RECEPTION PALESTINIANS AT MAKESHIFT ROOMS AROUND THE HOSPITAL DOCTORS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DIRECTOR OF FIELD HOSPITALS AT THE GAZA MINISTRY OF HEALTH, DOCTOR MARWAN AL-HAMS, SAYING: “We are living today under a
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: GAZA HEALTH HOSPITALS ISRAEL PALESTINIANS WAR
- Location: KHAN YOUNIS AND BEIT LAHIYA, GAZA
- City: KHAN YOUNIS AND BEIT LAHIYA, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA003032320032025RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
Gaza's hospitals, already reeling from weeks of an aid blockade, are struggling to keep up with the treatment of casualties after Israel resumed its bombing campaign and ground operations in the enclave, director of field hospitals at the Gaza ministry of the health said on Thursday (March 20).
Doctor Marwan al-Hams said hospitals are overcrowded and "intensive care units can't accommodate more patients".
Gaza's health system was devastated by Israel's 15-month military campaign, launched in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas in 2023, putting many of the territory's hospitals out of action, killing medics and reducing crucial supplies.
Although a ceasefire came into effect in January, talks to transition to a second phase of the agreement stalled in February. Israel announced it was cutting off all aid, including medical supplies, into Gaza on March 2 over a dispute with Hamas on the next phase of the deal.
"The entry of all goods and supplies to the Gaza Strip will be halted," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said at the time.
Israel has resumed its air assaults on Gaza since Tuesday (March 18) and launched ground operations on Wednesday (March 19), effectively abandoning the ceasefire with Hamas.
Israel said it was resuming airstrikes in response to Hamas' rejection of its proposals for extending the ceasefire.
The World Health Organization spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic said 20 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remained partially functional. However, far fewer were still able to handle surgery, aid agencies said. Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Khalil Al-Deqran said only seven of the territory's hospitals were still providing services.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned on Wednesday (March 19) that medics were struggling to manage a sharp increase in casualties over the last 36 hours due to the resumption of ground operations by Israel in the Gaza Strip.
"Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly and on top of this, hospital staff are struggling to manage the sharp increase of casualties," said the ICRC in a statement.
At least 85 Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza on Thursday. Tuesday's first day of resumed airstrikes killed more than 400 Palestinians, one of the deadliest days of the war.
The war started after Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities in October, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, by Israeli tallies.
More than 49,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ensuing conflict, according to Gaza's health authorities, with the enclave reduced to rubble.
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