Amid an intensifying Israeli ground offensive, Gaza's Nasser Medical Complex faces an imminent shutdown due to severe fuel shortages and critical medical supply shortages, alarming medics who fear for patient safety.
Gaza's Nasser Hospital on Brink of Collapse Amid Israeli Offensive
Gaza's Nasser Hospital on Brink of Collapse Amid Israeli Offensive
Critical fuel shortages threaten life-saving services at Gaza's largest hospital as the conflict escalates.
As Israeli forces push deeper into Gaza, the Nasser Medical Complex, the region’s largest operational hospital, is nearing collapse due to dire fuel shortages. Medical professionals are warning of a catastrophic situation as urgent services risk total failure, particularly in the wake of an intensifying Israeli offensive in Khan Younis that led to the hospital halting patient admissions.
Recent reports indicate that the complex stopped accepting new patients after Israeli troops advanced to positions dangerously close to the facility, as accounts reveal heavy shelling and gunfire near the hospital's premises. With advanced military operations taking center stage around the hospital, medical staff expressed fear for their lives and those they care for, sharing their distress with local reporters.
A physician from the hospital, Dr. Saber al-Asmar, indicated that the absence of communication from the Israeli military regarding operational movements around the hospital exacerbated the anxiety already felt by both staff and patients. “We didn’t get any warning… [there was] shooting all around.” Amidst the chaos, civilians near the hospital were reportedly struck by stray gunfire, creating additional panic.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation—tents set ablaze, families fleeing in haste as reinforcements and armored vehicles approached. Reports estimate that if the hospital loses access to electricity, many patients, particularly those reliant on ventilators, could face grave danger.
Despite claims from Israeli military officials regarding fuel deliveries into Gaza, they maintain that the distribution of aid is not their responsibility, leaving crucial medical facilities like Nasser Medical Complex scrambling for resources. The ongoing humanitarian crisis is further compounded by an influx of trauma cases, with over 700 patients being treated at a facility designed for just 350 beds.
The situation escalated significantly on Friday, with reports of violence resulting in casualties, as Israeli military operations continued in the region. Amidst this turmoil, further discussions about a potential ceasefire appeared stalled, raising concerns about immediate relief for the beleaguered sector.
With ongoing healthcare crises and perilous conditions for civilians, the situation calls for urgent international attention. Medical personnel insist they need immediate respite from continuous violence and associated casualties to preserve the lives still under their care.
