Power supplies in Gazan hospitals are dwindling as Israel continues its assault on the Strip, seeking to flush out the Hamas terrorists that launched their vile attack on October 7.
According to UNICEF, Israeli bombs have killed 2,360 children. The “staggering” figure, the charity says, has been reached in less than three weeks.
As hospitals appear on the verge of shutting down due to a lack of power, one doctor says the dire situation “makes hell look like a tea party”.
UNICEF Middle East and North Africa regional director Adele Khodr, said: “The situation in the Gaza Strip is a growing stain on our collective conscience. The rate of death and injuries of children is simply staggering. Even more frightening is the fact that unless tensions are eased, and unless humanitarian aid is allowed, including food, water, medical supplies and fuel, the daily death toll will continue to rise.”
Meanwhile on the Israeli side of the border, a British mum and her two daughters were buried yesterday after being murdered by Hamas during the terror attacks.
Lianne Sharabi, 48, from Bristol, and her daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, were buried in a joint funeral.
Lianne’s mother Gill said: “Our Lianne was the light of our family’s life.”
Khaled, a doctor at Al-Awda hospital, the main maternity provider in northern Gaza, told the Mirror: “The situation is critical, and we face huge challenges in providing services. We will have to stop the activities if we do not receive more fuel. We are working on two generators. There has been no electricity for 17 days in Gaza. There are a huge number of patients and not enough beds.”
The publication reported that explosions in Gaza could be seen and heard from miles inside Israel.
Norwegian Aid Committee’s Mads Gilbert told the publication, from the Gaza-Egypt border that his colleagues had revealed a “horrific scene” on the Strip.
He explained: “Imagine a hospital with 5,000 to 15,000 civilian refugees, overcrowded with patients needing surgical care, and then the lights are going out. I think you can imagine how difficult that is.”
As Israeli troops amass on the border with Gaza, a spokesperson said that the IDF has targeted “Hamas operatives and terrorist infrastructure” during its assault on the Strip.
The military claimed it had killed commander of Hamas’s North Khan Younis Battalion, Taysir Mubasher. A spokesman said: “Mubasher has extensive experience directing terror attacks.”
The IDF added that it had also attacked Syrian targets after rockets were launched over the border. Eight Syrian soldiers were killed.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said the death toll from Israeli air strikes has now reached more than 6,500 people since the October 7 terror attacks.
According to the terror group, 756, including 344 children, were killed in the past 24 hours.
UN chief Antonio Guterres has demanded more aid be sent to Gaza after sparking outrage in Israel when he said that Hamas’ terror attacks “did not happen in a vacuum”.
He added: “The grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
Hitting back at the astonishing comments, Israeli ambassador Gilad Erdan accused him of “justifying terrorism” and called for him to resign.
Yesterday, Mr Guterres rejected “misrepresentations” of his position.
