Medicines, fuel and high-capacity generators among items needed
PETALING JAYA: As the siege on Gaza raged on with reports of mass casualties, the Palestinian Health Ministry has called for medical aid from the international community including Malaysia.
Gaza’s Health Ministry director-general Dr Medhat Abbas said there are several items that the Palestinians need from Malaysia and other countries in light of the air campaign by the Israeli regime in the enclave of two million people.
“We are in need of vital medicines, disposable medical products, fuel and high-capacity generators in the face of the ongoing lack of electricity and medical shortage.
“We also need x-ray machines and funds for fuel to run the generators at hospitals,” he told The Star yesterday.
In a statement, the said ministry in Gaza claimed that the Israeli occupation is also targeting medical personnel, health facilities and ambulances.
So far, five health personnel have been killed while 10 others have been injured, it said.
“Seven hospitals and health centres were targeted, and direct damage was caused in large parts of them.
“The Israeli occupation put Beit Hanoun Hospital (the only one in the city) out of service due to the repeated targeting in the hospital vicinity, which led to the suspension of its services.
“The Israeli occupation deliberately targeted ambulances, where the occupation targeted 11 ambulances and destroyed one of the health services vehicles, putting them out of service,” the statement read.
According to the ministry, at least 13 families have been massacred since the beginning of the ongoing escalation, adding that most of them are still under rubble.
“Before Oct 7, Gaza was already suffering from severe shortages of critical medications, disposable medical equipment, and fuel due to the Israeli blockade. The Israeli aggression has further worsened this situation.
“There continues to be a lack of electricity to operate the health care system. This threatens the lives of all sick and injured people,” it said.
According to the Palestinian Health Information Center (PHIC), 687 people, including 140 children and 105 women were killed as of Oct 7, while 3,726 were injured, 10% of them being children.
The enclave is home to about 2.3 million people in total, of whom 80% rely heavily on humanitarian aid, mainly due to the ongoing hostilities with the Israeli regime.
According to reports, Israel has stopped all supplies entering Gaza.
These include food and medicine since the attacks began on Saturday morning.
On Monday, the Zionist regime declared a “complete siege” on Gaza, saying electricity, food, fuel and water would be cut off.
“No electricity, no food, no water, no gas – it’s all closed.
“We are fighting animals and are acting accordingly,” the regime’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was quoted as saying, which drew outrage among the international community.
In recent days, Israel has launched massive retaliatory air strikes into Gaza.
Sunday night saw a particularly heavy barrage of strikes, potentially the biggest Gaza has experienced in years, according to international reports.
On Monday, the United Nations said that 123,538 people in Gaza have been internally displaced, mostly “due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes”.
