Gaza city: The Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced today the suspension of operations at its Al-Zaytoun medical clinic in eastern Gaza City, following Israeli shelling in the surrounding area that endangered the lives of medical teams and patients.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Red Crescent stated that the Al-Zaytoun Clinic was forced to cease operations after several shells fell nearby, posing a severe risk to the safety of both staff and patients. The clinic had been a crucial provider of medical services to thousands of residents and displaced persons who had fled eastern Gaza in the wake of Israeli evacuation orders. The closure of the clinic now leaves many civilians without essential healthcare, compelling them to travel long distances for medical treatment or to obtain children's vaccinations.
The Red Crescent reported that since October 7, 2023, at least 18 of its clinics in Gaza have been rendered non-operational due to Israeli attacks and evacuation orders. This situation is occurring amid the near-total collapse of Gaza's healthcare sector, which is already on the verge of shutting down entirely due to a critical fuel shortage, exacerbated by Israel's ongoing closure of border crossings since March.
Medical facilities in Gaza are also dealing with severe shortages of medicines and supplies, while facing an influx of casualties. Since March 2, Israeli authorities have kept Gaza's border crossings tightly sealed, preventing the entry of essential fuel, aid, and supplies. Only a limited number of trucks have been allowed entry daily, far below the 500-truck minimum required to meet the basic needs of Gaza's population.
Israel's sustained military actions in Gaza, described by Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations as a campaign of genocide, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, have resulted in over 194,000 Palestinians being killed or injured, including thousands of women and children. Additionally, more than 11,000 individuals remain missing, while hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced, with famine continuing to claim lives, including those of dozens of children.
