Doctors Without Borders Urges Ceasefire and Unrestricted Aid Access as Critical Supplies Dwindle
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza is grappling with a dire shortage of essential supplies, as reported by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) on Wednesday. Fuel and medical resources have reached “critically low levels” due to ongoing road closures, exacerbating an already challenging situation.
Marie-Aure Perreaut Revial, the emergency coordinator for MSF in Gaza, expressed deep concern, stating, “There are 700 patients admitted in the hospital now, with new patients arriving all the time. We are running out of essential supplies to treat them.” The hospital, located in the central area, is the sole facility available, further complicating the situation.
MSF reiterated its urgent call for a ceasefire and appealed for aid to enter the entire Gaza Strip. The organization’s plea comes in the wake of multiple strikes in the Deir al-Balah area on Tuesday, leading to a significant influx of casualties at the Al-Aqsa hospital.
Hospital spokesperson Dr. Khalil Al Daqran highlighted the overwhelming challenges, stating, “Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is the only hospital in the central area and cannot accommodate such a large number of people, especially considering that massacres against our people are still ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported a sustained offensive against Hamas targets, with approximately 250 airstrikes in Gaza over the past 24 hours. The strikes aimed at locating weapons, underground infrastructure, explosives, and military assets of the militant group. The IDF’s operations represent a slightly higher number than the previous day but are lower than the initial surge following the breakdown of a temporary truce with Hamas.
The IDF emphasized its focus on eliminating terrorist threats, citing specific instances where ground troops directed airstrikes against rocket launchers and an armed terrorist cell operating near a school in northern Gaza. The military asserted that these strikes resulted in the elimination of terrorists from both Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations, along with the destruction of terrorist infrastructure.
The conflict has taken a severe toll on the civilian population, with numerous casualties reported in Deir al-Balah. Hospital records from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the occupied West Bank, drawing on data from Gaza hospitals, reported nearly 16,000 people killed since October 7, underscoring the gravity of the situation.