A plastic surgeon at the European Hospital in Khan Younis, which faced near-total evacuation this morning due to Israeli bombardment, reported damage to the hospital’s water and power supply.
In an interview with RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr. Tomo Potokar mentioned that strikes on the facility on Tuesday evening “caused significant damage” and led to many patients fleeing in fear.
He noted there were three additional strikes yesterday, prompting many patients to be moved to other hospitals.
According to civil defense workers, over 130 people have lost their lives in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn yesterday.
“Yesterday, there were three more strikes on the hospital. While I don’t believe there was an official evacuation order, patients, family members, and staff were all packing plastic bags and trying to evacuate,” he shared.
More than 130 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since dawn yesterday, according to civil defence workers.
“They successfully transferred some patients to other hospitals, which was a challenging process. Last night, there were still seven patients remaining in the Intensive Care Unit.”
“They managed to move one or two last night and are hoping to transfer the rest this morning; by then, there should be no patients left in the hospital.”
Dr. Potokar described the sound of continuous bombardment and drones overhead as “constant,” adding that the road out has become “quite dangerous.”
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He expressed the anxiety and concern everyone feels about the imminent days ahead.
“We’re working on negotiating the safest route to exit because once all patients are evacuated, there is no reason to remain,” he stated.
“We will move to different hospitals and continue our work elsewhere.”
This marks Dr. Potokar’s sixteenth visit to Gaza, a place he returns to due to the “clear need” for medical professionals.
“Anyone who has been to the Gaza Strip recognizes the injustice of the situation here,” he added.
“Moreover, it’s evident how dignified the Palestinian people are, having endured immense suffering with little help from the rest of the world.”
Earlier this month, the Israeli government greenlit plans to escalate its offensive, referring to the “conquest” of Gaza.
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A spokesperson for the World Health Organization stated that WHO staff are delivering their final medical supplies.
Christian Lindmeier highlighted that while trauma supplies are urgently required, essentials like food, water, and sanitary products are also crucial as the entire population of Gaza faces famine.
In an interview with RTÉ’s News at One, he emphasized that the United Nations is prepared with supplies and all that’s needed is to open the borders for them to come in.
He further noted that aid shipments are mere minutes away across the border while people are being denied fundamental humanitarian needs.
“We shouldn’t wait for a famine… we see individuals suffering from malnutrition; people are starving. Vulnerable children and the elderly are in dire situations,” he lamented.
Mr. Lindmeier characterized attacks on hospitals as “scandalous,” calling them “another drop in this horrific ocean.”
He urged Israel to cease the blockade and permit supplies into Gaza.
Out of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 2023 assault, 57 remain in Gaza, including 34 which the military indicates are deceased.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 1,218 individuals on the Israeli side, predominantly civilians, as reported by an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory actions have led to the deaths of at least 52,928 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to numbers from the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the United Nations.
