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Chaos Unfolds in Gaza City Hospitals Amid Ongoing Israeli Offensive

Medics at Gaza City's al-Shifa hospital describe dire conditions as they struggle to cope with an overwhelming number of casualties from Israeli strikes, facing inadequate supplies and intense pressure from an escalating military assault.

Source: bbc.co.uk1 min read
Chaos Unfolds in Gaza City Hospitals Amid Ongoing Israeli Offensive
Image via bbc.co.uk

In brief

Doctors at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City report being overwhelmed by casualties due to the ongoing Israeli offensive, operating under dire conditions with minimal resources. As Israeli tanks advance closer, the humanitarian crisis deepens, with thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes amidst a torrent of violence.

Doctors at one of Gaza City's last functioning hospitals say they are overwhelmed with casualties from Israeli strikes and are having to carry out operations in filthy conditions with few or no anaesthetics.

One Australian medic volunteering at al-Shifa hospital told the BBC that every day was a mass casualty event, while another described how a baby had been saved from the body of a pregnant woman who had been killed.

Israeli forces are now just 500m (1,640ft) away from the hospital as they expand their ground offensive to fully occupy Gaza City, which Israel's military calls Hamas's 'main stronghold'.

Witnesses say tanks are advancing into the city centre from the south and north-west.

Israeli air and artillery strikes, attacks by quadcopter drones and detonations of remotely driven vehicles laden with explosives continue to drive tens of thousands of Palestinians from their homes each day.

The Israeli military states that its offensive in Gaza City aims to defeat Hamas and secure the release of hostages still in captivity.

Al-Shifa hospital, once the biggest medical complex in the Gaza Strip, is now in ruins, overrun with patients and lacking even the most basic supplies. Medics report operating on badly injured patients without adequate anaesthesia.

Dr. Nada Abu Alrub, an emergency specialist, described the scene as 'horrific', recalling the struggles faced by her team in saving lives under appalling conditions.

The escalation of the crisis has resulted in immense suffering for the local population, with severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, compounded by the ongoing violence.

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