War-weary Palestinians in Deir el-Balah, Gaza, were forced to evacuate a hospital in fear of Israeli bombardment. The Israeli military had issued a warning for people to evacuate immediately, stating that they planned to take forceful action against Hamas and other terrorist groups in the area. Despite assurances from the military that medical facilities would not be targeted, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital, located in the middle of the warned area, saw a rapid exodus of patients and their families.
The situation was particularly dire for patients like Tamam Al-Raei, who had war injuries and relied on the hospital for treatment. Al-Raei expressed her uncertainty about where to seek safety and receive the necessary medical care. Families in the area tried to flee, with some resorting to hiring donkey-drawn carts to transport their belongings. Others carried patients, including a teenager who had lost the use of his legs and clutched a bag of intravenous fluid.
The Israeli military stated that their operations in Deir el-Balah aimed to target “terror operatives” and dismantle the remaining infrastructure of Hamas. They emphasized that the evacuation efforts did not include hospitals and medical facilities. However, past raids on Gaza’s hospitals by Israeli forces have created a sense of fear and panic among patients and medical workers. Gaza health ministry spokesman Khalil Al-Daqran acknowledged the difficulty of reassuring them that Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital would be safe.
The ongoing war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, has resulted in a significant loss of life. According to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures, 1,199 people, mostly civilians, have died as a result of Hamas’ attack. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has claimed the lives of at least 40,435 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. The UN rights office reports that the majority of the dead are women and children.
The situation in Gaza’s hospitals has been exacerbated by fuel shortages caused by the territory’s only power plant going out of service and Israel cutting off the electricity supply. Al-Aqsa Martyrs and other hospitals have faced crippling shortages of fuel necessary for their operation. With Gaza’s 2.4 million people, most of whom have been displaced at least once, having only 16 partially functioning hospitals, the health situation is dire. The recent announcement of Gaza’s first polio case in 25 years has further worsened the crisis.
Families fleeing Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital expressed their concerns for their physical safety as they tried to comply with repeated evacuation orders. Maha Al-Sarsak, one of the evacuees, described how her family had already fled multiple cities before reaching the hospital, only to be forced to leave again. Despite the challenges, the medical director of the hospital, Iyad Al-Jabri, stated that his teams would continue to stay and treat patients and the wounded.
The situation in Deir el-Balah highlights the immense challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza during the ongoing war. The fear of bombardment and the lack of access to essential medical care have forced families to make difficult decisions and endure further displacement. As the conflict continues, it is crucial for international efforts to prioritize the protection of civilians and ensure access to healthcare for those in need.