The Al-Shifa medical complex in northern Gaza is facing a dire situation as it has been deemed 'permanently out of service' due to the extensive destruction caused by a 14-day Israeli siege. The hospital's acting director, Dr. Marwan Abu Saada, stated that the complex is beyond repair, with buildings near collapse and severe damage inside.
Before the siege, Al-Shifa Hospital was the largest in Gaza, boasting 750 beds, 26 operation rooms, and serving 250,000 patients annually. However, the recent siege has left the hospital in ruins, necessitating urgent intervention.
Dr. Abu Saada emphasized the urgent need for a field hospital with a minimum capacity of 180 beds to treat the injured. Satellite imagery from April 1 shows extensive bulldozing and destruction of buildings at the complex, with at least 300 bodies found so far.
The Gaza Civil Defense reported that the Israel Defense Forces held the hospital under siege for two weeks, alleging that the complex was being used by armed militants. The destruction has left a critical shortage of medical workers, with many staff members forcibly displaced to the south.
Jadallah Al-Shafie, the director of the nursing department, highlighted the need to bring back medical staff, including local and international professionals, to operate the field hospital effectively. Dr. Abu Saada lamented the loss of doctors and surgeons during previous sieges, with many either killed or arrested by Israeli forces.
Dr. Abu Saada expressed the challenges faced by the medical staff, noting that they lack the personnel to provide assistance to the wounded in other locations. The situation at Al-Shifa Medical Complex underscores the urgent need for immediate support and resources to address the healthcare crisis in Gaza.
