On January 9, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called for the protection of medical facilities and workers in the Gaza Strip, citing a severe lack of security due to ongoing Israeli attacks.
The ICRC stated that the entire medical system in Gaza has been negatively impacted by the attacks, with medical professionals being killed and detained. William Schomburg, head of the ICRC sub-delegation in Gaza, emphasized that the ongoing hostilities have led to a shortage of equipment and essential supplies, resulting in the closure of most hospitals in the enclave.
Schomburg stressed the importance of respecting healthcare facilities and workers, urging for their protection under international humanitarian law in order to provide life-saving treatment to those in need.
According to the Gaza-based government media office, 326 medical personnel and 45 civil defense members have been killed in Israeli attacks on the enclave since October 7 of last year.
As of January 3, only 13 out of Gaza’s 36 hospitals have been partially functional, with nine in the south and four in the north, as reported by the World Health Organization.
The Gaza-based Health Ministry reported that the occupancy rates reached 206 percent in internal medicine departments of hospitals and 250 percent in intensive care units.
