During a recent visit to Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, a surgeon reported significant destruction of medical facilities following a two-week siege by Israeli forces. Dr. Athanasios Gargavanis described the devastation, which included the destruction of an oxygen plant, a CT scan machine, and laboratory equipment.
The specialized surgical buildings at the hospital were severely damaged, with the structure blown out from the basement to the second floor. The World Health Organization doctor mentioned that further assessment by an engineer would be needed to determine if the buildings could be restored.
Health workers in Gaza have alleged that Israeli forces killed hundreds of Palestinians and left their bodies to decompose during the siege in March. The extent of the destruction at Al-Shifa Hospital was revealed to the world through footage that emerged on April 1, the day the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their withdrawal from the hospital.
The IDF claimed that 'hundreds of terrorists were killed or captured' during the two-week siege, although this statement could not be independently verified. The impact of the siege on the medical resources and infrastructure at Al-Shifa Hospital highlights the challenges faced by healthcare providers in Gaza amid ongoing conflict.
