GAZA: At least 11,540 Palestinians have been killed as Israeli bombardment on the besieged Gaza Strip and West Bank continued into the 38th day on Monday.
Palestinian Health Ministry said over 28,200 Palestinians were reportedly wounded, while at least 3,250 citizens are still missing or under the rubble including 1,700 children.
Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported the ministry said in its daily report on Monday that 202 health personnel and 36 members of the Civil Defense have also been killed in the attacks, while more than 130 were wounded, as 60 ambulances were damaged, including 53 that were completely out of service.
Hospitals come under attacks
It reported the ministry said that the bombing operations around Al-Shifa Hospital, the main hospital in Gaza City intensified since Nov 11, as vital infrastructure was targeted, crippled its operations including the oxygen station, water tanks and well, cardiovascular department facilities, and the maternity ward, adding that three nurses were also killed.
Six premature babies and at least 15 patients had died because fuel ran out and hospital departments were out of service as a result of it being directly targeted and besieged.
According to WAFA, the number of hospitals out of service has now reached 25 out of 35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and 53 out of 72 primary health clinics had also ceased operation due to lack of fuel or bombing.
Red Crescent denies claims
Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency reported the Palestine Red Crescent Society in a statement on Monday denied Israeli claims of the presence of Palestinian gunmen inside Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza.
The Red Crescent condemned “the (Israeli) occupation army’s false allegations of gunmen firing from inside Al-Quds Hospital.”
It also considered the claims being “incitement to target the hospital” in a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
The Red Crescent Society said Sunday that Al-Quds Hospital went out of service due to a lack of fuel and electricity, but many Gazans took shelter in the hospital hoping it will be spared by the Israelis due to its status as a civilian facility.
‘No fuel has entered Gaza’
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) on Monday warned that it would have to suspend operations in Gaza within 48 hours due to the lack of fuel in the enclave blockaded by Israel.
The statement was made by UNRWA’s director in Gaza Thomas White, who confirmed that “no fuel has entered Gaza” since Oct 7.
“The humanitarian operation in Gaza will grind to a halt in the next 48 hours as no fuel is allowed to enter Gaza,” Anadolu Agency reported the UNRWA senior official as saying.
UNRWA is the main UN agency operating in the Gaza Strip, where its schools currently host some 700,000 displaced Palestinians seeking refuge from Israeli attacks.
Thousands of buildings including hospitals, mosques and churches have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel’s relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month. – BERNAMA -WAFA/ANADOLU AGENCY
