Israeli Drone Attack Claims Lives of Medical Workers in Gaza
In a tragic incident reported on October 23, 2024, a drone strike by Israeli forces near Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, resulted in the deaths of a doctor and a nurse. The Director General of the Gaza Ministry of Health, Munir Al-Barsh, confirmed that Doctor Muhammad Ghanem and Nurse Muhammad Marzouq Salman were targeted while performing their duties amidst ongoing violence in the region. This attack is part of a broader offensive that has reportedly led to the deaths of 1,047 healthcare workers since the conflict escalated on October 7, 2023.
The situation in northern Gaza is dire, with hospitals facing severe shortages of essential supplies. Al-Barsh stated that the Israeli military is besieging healthcare facilities, restricting access to medicine, food, and water. He accused the Israeli forces of committing war crimes, highlighting that international aid organizations have been prevented from entering the area to provide necessary relief.
Humanitarian Crisis and Patient Fatalities
The humanitarian crisis in the region has deepened, with reports of patients dying due to a lack of oxygen. On the same day as the drone attack, a 55-year-old patient with liver cirrhosis died at the Indonesian Hospital, marking the third death attributed to the Israeli siege and the lack of medical resources. Marwan Sultan, the hospital director, revealed that the deceased was buried within the hospital premises due to the ongoing Israeli blockade, which has made it impossible to conduct proper burials.
Last Saturday, two other patients succumbed to similar conditions in the intensive care unit of the Indonesian Hospital, underscoring the critical state of healthcare in northern Gaza. Al-Barsh emphasized that the Israeli military's intensified targeting of health facilities is a deliberate strategy to incapacitate the healthcare system in the region.
Ongoing Conflict and International Response
Since October 5, 2023, Israeli forces have conducted extensive bombing operations in northern Gaza, particularly around the Jabalia camp. The military claims these operations are aimed at preventing Hamas from regrouping, but Palestinian authorities argue that the true objective is the occupation and displacement of local residents. The international community remains divided on how to respond to the escalating violence, with calls for humanitarian intervention growing louder as the situation deteriorates.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian needs of the population in Gaza are becoming increasingly urgent, with many calling for immediate action to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
