Health Crisis Deepens in Gaza Amid Escalating Conflict

As Israeli forces advance further into densely populated areas, only 16 out of 36 hospitals remain partially functional, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

Israeli forces are moving further into southern Gaza, with airstrikes and close-combat fighting approaching densely populated areas, raising concerns about major operations taking place in such areas.
Out of 36 hospitals in Gaza, only 16 partially functioning health facilities remain, struggling to cope with tens of thousands of casualties and the effects of the acute humanitarian crisis.
Health services in Gaza are 'decimated', with medical staff exhausted and forced to treat patients without adequate supplies or facilities, leading to a rise in indirect victims of the war.
Communications blackouts in Gaza, some imposed by Israel, are causing serious problems as they prevent those in need from calling ambulances and coordinating medical aid.
Israel has said it tries to avoid civilian casualties but that Hamas uses the local population as human shields by placing military infrastructure among and below them. Hamas denies this.