Tel Aviv: Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Ashraf Al-Qudra, the spokesperson for Gaza’s Health Ministry, held a press conference on Tuesday, revealing a dire situation in the Palestinian enclave. He reported that Israeli attacks had resulted in the deaths of 65 medical personnel, the destruction of 25 ambulances, and the rendering of 12 hospitals and 32 health centers inoperable. Moreover, Al-Qudra expressed concerns that more healthcare facilities would become non-functional in the coming hours due to ongoing attacks and a shortage of essential resources, such as fuel.
The conflict, which began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, has witnessed a massive exchange of hostilities, with thousands of rockets fired from both sides and Israeli airstrikes. Israel has also imposed punitive measures, including a siege on the Gaza Strip, leading to shortages of water, electricity, fuel, and other necessities. As a result, the conflict has tragically claimed the lives of nearly 5,800 Palestinians in Gaza and over 1,400 individuals in Israel.