The Palestinian Health Ministry issued a distressing statement on Saturday, revealing that 39 children in the care ward of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza are currently facing the imminent threat of death due to a severe shortage of oxygen.
This critical situation unfolded alongside a barrage of air and artillery attacks on the hospital and its surroundings by Israeli forces.
The Health Ministry took the initiative to correct an earlier statement made by Minister Mai Al-Kaila, who had mistakenly claimed that 39 infants in the intensive care unit of Al-Shifa Hospital had succumbed to oxygen deprivation.
Mohammad Alawawda, the media manager at the Health Ministry, told Anadolu Agency that the 39 children in the care ward are at significant risk, with one infant already having tragically lost their life due to the insufficient supply of oxygen.
During a press conference, Minister Kaila passionately asserted that Israel is committing war crimes and genocide in the Gaza Strip. She decried the besiegement and bombing of hospitals, emphasizing the dire consequences for the health care infrastructure.
Expressing frustration with the international community, Kaila condemned its inability to halt the machinery of destruction that is resulting in the loss of lives in hospitals, unfolding on live broadcasts for the world to witness.
The minister pointed out that rather than providing essential support such as fuel, medicine, and supplies, Israel is surrounding hospitals with tanks, leading to the inevitable demise of thousands of patients and wounded individuals.
She highlighted the alarming fact that 20 out of the 35 hospitals in the region are now out of service due to Israeli bombing and the acute shortage of fuel.
Drawing attention to a specific incident, Kaila reported that Al-Nasr Hospital was directly targeted, resulting in the destruction of the nursery department and the deliberate targeting of solar energy panels. This, in turn, led to the interruption of electricity and water supply, exacerbating the already dire conditions.
In a heartfelt appeal to the international community, Minister Kaila urgently called for intervention to lift the siege on hospitals and put an end to the ongoing conflict. She emphasized that such actions are essential to saving the lives of thousands of residents who are currently at risk due to the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
Pertinently, Over 11,000 people have lost their lives in Palestine in Israeli bombardment as Tel Aviv continue shelling Gaza.
