In a post on social media platform X, Ghebreyesus noted that the Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza is trying to resume its activities to serve thousands of patients again, but the situation is still unbelievably difficult and chaotic.
Underlining that a delegation of United Nations (UN) experts led by WHO has arrived at Shifa Hospital to provide essential medical supplies and assess priority health needs, Ghebreyesus said the hospital is currently able to provide limited trauma stabilization and dialysis support.
Ghebreyesus said that surgical services are not yet possible at Shifa Hospital, pointing out that the hospital lacks blood for transfusion and staff to deal with the constant flow of patients.
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Food shortages in the Gaza Strip raise growing concerns
“The health system across Gaza is in poor condition, with only 8 out of 36 hospitals partially operational. The lack of food is also a growing concern, leading to increased hunger across the Gaza Strip. Severe hunger is also a serious health risk. The only sustainable solution (for Gaza) is an immediate ceasefire.”
Israel’s invasion of Gaza after October 7
On October 7, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on the grounds of “responding to the continuous violations against Palestinians and holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
Israel announced that 1,200 Israelis were killed and 5,132 wounded in the attacks on October 7.
At least 18,787 Palestinians, including 8,000 children and 6,200 women, have been killed in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. While thousands of dead are reported to be under the rubble, civilian infrastructure is being destroyed by targeting hospitals and educational institutions where people take shelter.
The Israeli army announced that 450 of its soldiers have been killed, 118 of them during the ground invasion, since October 7, when its attacks on the Gaza Strip began.
During the “humanitarian pause” in hostilities, which began on November 24 for 4 days and was later extended for another 3 days, 81 Israelis and 240 Palestinian prisoners were mutually released. However, Israel continued to detain and imprison thousands of Palestinians.
In the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, 291 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and illegal Jewish settlers.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in Lebanon, 24 Lebanese civilians, 108 Hezbollah members, 5 Israeli civilians and 6 Israeli soldiers were killed.
In Gaza, 1.9 million Palestinians, displaced under the blockade at gunpoint, struggle to survive without shelter, food, clean water, medicine and health care.
