A blackout at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, one of the last remaining functional medical facilities in the enclave, has put the lives of patients in the ICU and nursery at high risk of death, the Gaza Government Media Office has reported.
Medical staff are forced to use flashlights in darkened rooms. Some resorted to the light of mobile phones to tend to children in intensive care. Dr Warda al-Awawdeh stated that if devices dependent on secondary power stop, it will be life-threatening. The hospital houses three babies in incubators and 10 others in a separate room.
UN’s humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths expressed concerns about statements from Israeli leaders regarding the deportation of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip. Griffiths expressed his concerns at the UN Security Council.
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October stands at 23,843, with over 60,317 wounded.
Indonesia faces accusations at the ICJ that Hamas managed operations from the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza. Sarbini Abdul Murad, head of the Indonesian charity MER-C, rejected these claims. MER-C funded the hospital. MER-C volunteer Fikri Rofiul Haq denied witnessing any tunnels or captives under the hospital.
Meanwhile, the United States continues its involvement in the Middle East, carrying out strikes against Yemen’s Houthi forces. President Joe Biden’s administration authorised these strikes in response to Houthi attacks on maritime vessels, including commercial ones.
However, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal criticised President Biden for not seeking congressional approval before authorising the military strikes. The strikes were supported by the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Bahrain.