Gaza’s European Hospital Faces Catastrophic Shutdown Due to Ongoing Airstrikes
Repeated Attacks on Gaza’s Key Medical Facility Leave Thousands Without Life-Saving Services
Watan-The Ministry of Health in Gaza has warned of the continued shutdown of the European Gaza Hospital, located in the southern Gaza Strip, due to the recent airstrikes.
The Ministry confirmed that the attacks caused significant damage to infrastructure, including sewage lines, as well as harm to internal departments and the destruction of roads leading to the hospital.
Last Tuesday, Israeli forces launched a series of air raids targeting various areas of the hospital, with the attacks described as “fire belts,” leading to dozens of martyrs and injuries. The hospital departments were severely damaged before new bombings occurred on Wednesday.
Gaza’s European Hospital Shutdown Leaves Thousands Without Critical Medical Care
The Ministry stated that the repeated targeting of the hospital “makes it impossible to provide medical care due to the risk posed to medical staff, the wounded, and patients.”
It noted that the shutdown of the hospital means the cessation of specialized services such as neurosurgery, chest surgery, cardiac catheterization, cardiovascular surgery, and ophthalmology, all of which are only available at the European Hospital.
The Ministry emphasized that the European Gaza Hospital is the only facility providing cancer treatment follow-up in the Gaza Strip, after the destruction of the Turkish Friendship Hospital. “The closure of this hospital means that cancer patients will be deprived of their treatment protocols, worsening their health conditions.”
The hospital includes 28 intensive care unit beds, 12 incubators for infants, 260 inpatient beds, 25 emergency beds, and 60 cancer patient beds. All of these services have now ceased.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously reported that 16 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are partially operational, while 20 hospitals have been closed due to the ongoing war.
In this context, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor stated that the targeting of the European Gaza Hospital followed the bombing of the surgery building at the “Nasser” Medical Complex on the same morning. The monitor stressed that these attacks constitute several crimes under international law.
It confirmed that this escalation represents a dangerous phase in a systematic strategy to destroy the “last refuge” places where Palestinian civilians, including patients and the wounded who are supposed to be protected at all times, seek shelter, as well as the medical staff working in catastrophic conditions to save as many lives as possible.
Gaza’s Neonatal Units on the Brink of Collapse Amid Power Cuts and Fuel Shortage
The Ministry of Health also stated that catastrophic conditions are being faced by premature infants in Gaza’s neonatal units. The Ministry pointed out that malnutrition and the siege conditions “have greatly increased the number of premature births,” with many newborns suffering from health complications.
The Ministry confirmed that the neonatal intensive care unit is lacking incubators, respirators, and oxygen connectors under immense pressure, while the neonatal units are operating on generators that are at risk of running out of fuel due to the severe shortage of diesel.
The Ministry warned: “Children in the neonatal units are under severe danger due to the frequent power cuts, which could lead to serious complications for premature infants or even their loss.”
The Ministry has called on humanitarian and health organizations to urgently intervene to provide the necessary medical devices, fuel, generators, milk, nutritional supplements, and to support medical delegations.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health complained about a severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies, stating that many of these items are now out of stock due to the ongoing Israeli blockade on Gaza. It also confirmed that the Israeli attacks on hospitals have worsened the health crisis in Gaza.
Since March 2, the Israeli authorities have prevented any medicines, medical supplies, or fuel from entering Gaza, while intensifying bloody attacks that have caused thousands of casualties.
