On day 174, a significant update emerges regarding the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza. The United Nations reports that an alarming two-thirds of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are currently classified as ‘non-functional’. This distressing revelation sheds light on the dire humanitarian situation unfolding in the region, highlighting the critical need for immediate attention and support to address the healthcare crisis affecting the population

Conflict and the humanitarian situation
On Thursday morning, reports from Al Jazeera Arabic detailed Israeli forces’ airstrikes targeting northern Gaza, including densely populated areas such as Gaza City, as well as the Shati and Jabalia refugee camps. Separately, disturbing footage obtained by Al Jazeera depicted Israeli soldiers fatally shooting two Palestinian men who were peacefully walking along the coast towards northern Gaza.

Amidst the escalating violence, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed harrowing statistics: nearly 160 Palestinians lost their lives, and 195 sustained injuries due to Israeli attacks between Monday and Wednesday alone. The heavy fighting particularly ravaged northern Gaza City, exacerbating an already dire situation.

Compounding the crisis, OCHA also disclosed that two-thirds of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are currently classified as “non-functional”. Those hospitals that remain operational are barely able to provide essential medical services, functioning at minimal or partial capacity. This staggering revelation underscores the severe strain on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.

Further exacerbating the dire circumstances, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies highlighted the catastrophic state of the healthcare system in northern Gaza, emphasizing that it has been largely decimated. The situation in the south is no better, with the healthcare system teetering on the brink of collapse. These reports underscore the urgent need for international intervention to alleviate the suffering and prevent further loss of life in Gaza.

• Conflict and the humanitarian situation

• On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office made a formal request to reschedule a high-level meeting with the White House concerning military plans for Gaza’s southern city of Rafah. This request followed Netanyahu’s sudden cancellation of the meeting, indicating a diplomatic effort to ease tensions between the two allies.
• • Concurrently, over 130 members of parliament in the United Kingdom issued a collective call on Wednesday urging the government to immediately halt export licenses for arms transfers to Israel, reflecting growing concerns about the ongoing conflict.
• • In a distressing development in southern Lebanon, at least nine individuals lost their lives in two separate strikes on Wednesday amidst escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.