Gaza's Health Ministry says hospitals have run out of beds

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) - The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza warned Wednesday of a disruption to healthcare services across the Gaza Strip as hospitals don’t have enough beds to accommodate the wounded from Israel’s bombardments.

"Hospitals have run out of bed capacity. The injured and ill people are on the floor as the Israeli aggression intensifies," the ministry said in a statement.

It said the continued Israeli cutting of electricity, water and fuel "poses a danger to the lives of the injured and ill and will lead to a disastrous health and environmental catastrophe."

"We hold the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the lives of the injured and ill, as it exhausted the health system and weakened its capacity," it added.

The ministry warned that the health situation in Gaza "can't bear silence" and "there must be immediate action to secure a safe corridor for medical supplies."

The announcement by Gaza health authorities comes amid the intensification of the Israeli bombing on Gaza which has left thousands in need of medical and healthcare services.

On Monday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a "complete siege" on the Gaza Strip amid intensified fighting with the Palestinian Hamas group.

Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, air and sea.

It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas.

Nearly 1,200 Palestinians and 1,300 Israelis have been killed since the start of the Israel-Palestine conflict.