Hospitals risk turning into morgues without electricity in Gaza: Red Cross

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday warned that hospitals risk turning into morgues without electricity in the blockaded Gaza.

“As Gaza loses power, hospitals lose power, putting newborns in incubators and elderly patients on oxygen at risk. Kidney dialysis stops, and X-rays can’t be taken. Without electricity, hospitals risk turning into morgues,” Fabrizio Carboni, the regional director for the Near and Middle East for the ICRC, said in a statement.

Stressing that families in Gaza are already having trouble accessing clean water, Carboni said: "No parent wants to be forced to give a thirsty child dirty water."

On the sufferings that Israeli families go through, he said: "At the same time Israeli families are worried sick about loved ones taken hostage."

He stated that taking of hostages is prohibited under international humanitarian law, and urged immediate release of anyone being held.

"The human misery caused by this escalation is abhorrent, and I implore the sides to reduce the suffering of civilians," the regional director said.

Additionally, Carboni said that ICRC is now in contact with Hamas and Israeli officials and the committee stands "ready to conduct humanitarian visits, facilitate communication between hostages and family members, and to facilitate any eventual release."

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.