‘Israel emptying out northern Gaza hospitals through siege, threats’

Israel is emptying out hospitals in northern parts of the blockaded Gaza Strip through tight siege, threats against medical staff and evacuation orders, says a medical director in war-ravaged Gaza.

The Al-Aqsa Hospital’s medical director, Eyad al-Jabri, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Wednesday, sounding the alarm about the devastating impact of Israel's tightening siege on northern Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes have repeatedly targeted hospitals and medical centers across the besieged Palestinian territory over the past year.

“Zionists intend to destroy all forms of resistance in northern Gaza. The health ministry and its hospitals, which people turn to in times of crisis, illness or injury, are among these forms. Therefore, the Israeli military deliberately aims at emptying out the north from its hospitals, Kamal Adwan, the Indonesian and Al-Awda hospitals,” he warned.

The warning comes as all three major hospitals in the northern territory area are out of service, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. 

“In recent days, the Israeli army has threatened medical staff and physicians within Kamal Adwan Hospital and demanded the evacuation of all medical equipment and patients. Also, the administration building and the hospital building were targeted and medical staff was threatened with being detained, killed or injured,” al-Jabri added.

Depleted medical supplies halt healthcare in northern Gaza hospital

The depletion of medical supplies has hindered a northern Gaza hospital from providing healthcare services.

The developments come as the Israeli military has intensified its bombing and shelling campaign of northern Gaza, killing and wounding an increasing number of civilians. It has also blocked the entry of humanitarian aid, including fuel to hospitals, medical necessities and food supplies.

“The hospital has become a mass grave as it has no fuel, no medicine, no medical supplies and no medical services. Therefore, people in ICUs and maternity units pass away. Consequently, there is no electricity and no oxygen providers which will result in the death of the patients, including those with asthma and respiratory system issues. This is a symptom of district siege on Kamal Adwan Hospital,” al-Jabri further warned, stressing that the Zionist regime kills almost whatever moves in the north.

The Al-Aqsa Hospital’s medical director also called on the world, the international community, human rights groups and those “who say they are protecting freedom, human rights and humanity, to put an end to it.”

Meanwhile, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital said in a statement that the depletion of medical supplies has prevented the facility from delivering healthcare services, warning that his hospital could no longer “provide healthcare services to the injured and sick due to the depletion of medical supplies.”

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