Palestinians Flee from Main Hospital in Central Gaza as Fighting Draws Closer, Aid Groups Withdraw
Medics, patients, and displaced people are scrambling to escape from the main hospital in central Gaza as the fighting intensifies between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. Witnesses report that the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous, prompting aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders to withdraw from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. This development has sparked panic among those seeking shelter in the hospital, leading many to join the hundreds of thousands of people who have already fled to the south of the besieged territory.
The potential loss of the central hospital would be a devastating blow to an already fragile health system in Gaza, which has been ravaged by three months of unrelenting war. The escalating conflict has taken a severe toll on the Palestinian people, causing over 22,000 deaths and displacing nearly 85% of the population, leaving them on the brink of starvation. The situation has also increased the risk of a broader war, potentially involving Lebanon’s Hezbollah and other Iran-backed militant groups aligned with Hamas.
In response to the mounting humanitarian crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to the region this week. While the United States has provided crucial support to Israel during the offensive, including military aid and diplomatic backing, it has called on Israel to take greater measures to protect civilians. However, both the U.S. and Israel have rejected international calls for an immediate ceasefire.
Gaza’s hospitals, struggling to cope with the influx of wounded individuals from Israeli strikes, have also become overwhelmed with tens of thousands seeking shelter. According to the UN humanitarian office, only 13 out of the 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially functioning. The current situation at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital highlights the dire conditions faced by both patients and medical staff. Thousands of people have fled after the withdrawal of aid groups, while the remaining doctors attempt to concentrate patients on one floor for easier care. However, the hospital is ill-equipped to handle the growing number of wounded individuals, who are in dire need of specialized care.
The situation is particularly dire in northern Gaza, which Israeli forces have cut off from the rest of the territory since late October. Entire neighborhoods have been demolished, and hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to flee. Those who remain face dire shortages of food and water. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been unable to deliver supplies to northern Gaza for the past 12 days. Meanwhile, Israel continues to battle what it describes as pockets of militants still present in the area.
The devastating impact of the war on civilian life is evident in the urban Jabaliya refugee camp, where a relentless wave of violence has occurred. A recent Israeli airstrike targeted a four-story home filled with displaced people in the camp, resulting in the deaths of at least 70 individuals, including women and children. The Health Ministry has yet to confirm these numbers but has struggled to maintain its operations in the northern region.
Since the beginning of the war, over 22,800 Palestinians have lost their lives, and more than 58,000 have been wounded, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. The death toll does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, though health officials estimate that approximately two-thirds of those killed have been women and children. Israel contends that Hamas bears responsibility for civilian casualties as it operates within densely populated residential areas. However, the military seldom comments on specific strikes, with the exception of stating that it has killed around 8,000 militants. The Israeli army reports that 176 of its own soldiers have been killed in the offensive.
As Secretary of State Blinken engages with regional leaders, the immediate focus remains on de-escalating tensions and preventing the war from spreading further. Recent events, including the killing of a senior Hamas leader in Beirut, have heightened concerns along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Hezbollah, a Hamas ally, has increased rocket fire into northern Israel, culminating in a major attack on a sensitive air traffic base. While Israel has thus far sought to contain the fighting in the north, its leaders have voiced growing impatience and have not ruled out the possibility of resorting to war if diplomatic efforts fail.
In conclusion, as the fighting in Gaza intensifies, Palestinians are fleeing the main hospital in central Gaza, further straining an already decimated healthcare system. The withdrawal of aid groups has caused panic among those seeking shelter, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. The toll of the offensive on civilians has been devastating, with thousands dead and wounded, and ordinary life in the region ground to a halt. The international community, including the United States, faces increasing pressure to address the escalating violence and work towards a sustainable resolution.
