The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a critical point as Israeli forces continue to lay siege to Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza. The hospital, run by the Palestine Red Crescent Society, has been under siege for over 18 days, with roads blocked and thousands of people displaced from other parts of Gaza trapped inside. The situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing reduction of humanitarian space and attacks on healthcare facilities, pushing the people of Gaza to a breaking point.
The World Health Organization reported that more than 600 people have been killed inside healthcare facilities since Israel launched a retaliatory war on Gaza. The siege on Al-Amal Hospital and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis has left medical workers and patients stranded, with limited access to essential medical supplies, drinking water, and food. The hospitals are struggling to provide adequate healthcare services to the injured due to the occupation’s restrictions on the entry of medical supplies.
Saleem Aburas, a relief coordinator with the Palestine Red Crescent, described the siege as a never-ending nightmare. Medical teams are unable to deal with critical cases due to the deteriorating health situation caused by the intense bombardment. Israeli soldiers have targeted civilians in the hospital’s vicinity, resulting in casualties and damage to the hospital’s infrastructure.
The siege on Al-Amal Hospital escalated on January 30, with continuous air and artillery bombardment causing damage to the hospital. Israeli soldiers stormed the hospital grounds, igniting fires and ordering displaced people to evacuate. The violence culminated in the killing of Hedaya Hamad, a Red Crescent worker, who was buried on hospital grounds. Hamad’s death was one of several Red Crescent workers killed during the war, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.
As the siege entered its third week, the hospital faced challenges such as a shortage of fuel for backup generators and oxygen supplies, risking the lives of patients. Overcrowding, limited medical supplies, and scarcity of food and milk for children posed additional threats to the well-being of those inside the hospital. Thousands of people evacuated the hospital, leaving behind a reduced number of healthcare workers to tend to the wounded.
The situation in Gaza remains dire as more Palestinians are trapped in southern Gaza, facing the threat of a full-scale assault by the Israeli military. The displaced people embarked on a journey into uncertainty, while those remaining in the hospital continue to endure deprivation and lack of basic necessities. The harrowing siege on Al-Amal Hospital underscores the urgent need for immediate humanitarian intervention to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza.