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SvennoJ 7 hours ago
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ICRC: Hospitals in Gaza struggling to cope with casualties

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns that medics are struggling to manage a sharp increase in casualties over the past 36 hours due to the resumption of attacks by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

“Due to the recent suspension of humanitarian aid into Gaza, stocks of medical supplies have dropped significantly and on top of this, hospital staff are struggling to manage the sharp increase of casualties,” the ICRC said in a statement.

Israel has blockaded Gaza for the two weeks leading up to the resumption of its assault, leaving Palestinians with few supplies that they’ll need to endure.

Al-Quds Field Hospital near Gaza City reopens amid renewed war

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has resumed operations at its al-Quds Field Hospital in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood west of Gaza City, Wafa reports. It had been damaged by Israeli attacks in November 2023.

The hospital announced that it will receive wounded, injured, sick, and visitors starting next Friday, despite the damage it sustained, Wafa reported. Medical and administrative teams have been working over the past weeks to rehabilitate the hospital, despite a severe shortage of medical equipment and supplies.

Two operating rooms, an emergency department, a reception area, and outpatient clinics have been re-equipped, alongside the intensive care unit and diagnostic departments, such as radiology and the laboratory.

Israeli forces besieged al-Quds Hospital for weeks in 2023, preventing medical staff and supplies from entering, bringing its operations to a complete standstill. The hospital’s surroundings also witnessed heavy shelling.

Paramedic in Gaza ‘horrified’ at scenes of renewed war

The medic recounted to Al Jazeera seeing the dismembered bodies of people inside a vehicle in Rafah after it was hit by Israeli strikes.

“We received a call about a bombing in the area of Dowar Khebat Al-Adas, in front of Al-Yasmeen Mall,” Sofian Ahmed, working as part of a civil defense team, told Al Jazeera.

“When we arrived at the scene, we were shocked to find that the target was a car or a public vehicle transporting civilians from one place to another.”

He added: “We were horrified to see that there were five martyrs inside the vehicle, burned and dismembered.

“This is what Rafah is experiencing around the clock. Rafah remains a dangerous place where bombings occur daily in border areas. Additionally, targeting and gunfire continue nonstop.”