Nasser Hospital in Gaza rendered non-functional after Israeli raid
The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza’s largest functioning medical facility, has been left in ruins following an Israeli raid last week. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Sunday that the hospital is now out of commission, leaving hundreds of patients without access to critical medical care.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the hospital was subjected to a weeklong siege followed by an ongoing raid. He expressed his concerns in a social media post, stating, “Nasser hospital in #Gaza is not functional anymore.” Tedros also revealed that WHO teams attempting to bring in fuel were denied entry into the hospital twice, preventing them from assessing the condition of patients and their medical needs.
Approximately 200 patients remain at the hospital, with at least 20 of them requiring urgent referrals to other medical facilities. The situation is dire, as the hospital was the primary healthcare provider in the area before the Israeli raid. The loss of this crucial facility puts lives at risk and further exacerbates the already dire healthcare situation in Gaza.
Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, has been a focal point of the Israeli offensive against Hamas for weeks. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have arrested over 100 militants, including 20 individuals involved in the October 7 attacks that triggered the Hamas-Israel war. The recent incursion was specifically aimed at locating the remains of hostages.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that 70 medical personnel were among those arrested during the raid, leaving only four healthcare workers to care for patients. Shockingly, patients in hospital beds were also detained. As a result of the power and oxygen loss caused by the sweep, eleven patients tragically lost their lives, as reported by the BBC.
Tedros warned that further fatalities are imminent if patients with critical needs do not receive proper care. He emphasized, “The cost of delays will be paid by patients’ lives.” The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with Israeli strikes overnight resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people, including women and children.
In the midst of this crisis, the United States has announced its intention to veto a draft U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza. The U.S. argues that such a resolution undermines efforts to find a permanent solution to the Israel-Hamas conflict. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated, “It is critical that other parties give this process the best odds of succeeding, rather than push measures that put it – and the opportunity for an enduring resolution of hostilities – in jeopardy.”
Efforts to broker a cease-fire and secure the release of over 100 hostages in Gaza have been ongoing for weeks. The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt have been leading these negotiations but have faced staunch resistance from both Israel and Hamas. In response to the situation, the Israeli Cabinet has adopted a declaration rejecting international edicts on a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians and opposing any unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as vital medical facilities like Nasser Hospital are destroyed. The international community must prioritize finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict and ensuring that innocent civilians have access to life-saving medical care. The lives of countless individuals depend on swift action and a commitment to ending the violence.
