By Abdulsalam Fayez
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Israeli army blocked fuel trucks from reaching hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip amid a military offensive in the area, local authorities said on Thursday.
The Israeli army continued a military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip for a fifth day on Thursday amid a tight siege on the area, according to witnesses.
The army ordered three hospitals in the area to evacuate within 24 hours as part of the ongoing onslaught.
“The Israeli army has blocked diesel deliveries to hospitals in northern Gaza for the fifth consecutive time,” Gaza’s government media office said.
“All hospitals and medical facilities are at risk of shutting down within 24 hours,” it warned in a statement.
The media office called the Israeli act a “fully orchestrated crime” aimed to undermine the health system in northern Gaza, where 700,000 people reside.
Ismail al-Thawabta, who heads the media office, early accused Israel of “committing genocide by targeting the health care system and hospitals.”
Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.
More than 42,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 97,900 others injured, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.
Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
*Writing by Mohammad Sio