a hospital aught to have more than a roof and some doctors;

In Gaza City, as the Israeli army is taking more steps to reach and occupy the heart of the city, and the number of casualties rise, all eyes are once again on the one hospital that used to be the largest and most qualified for such times – al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

Since October 2023, the Israeli army has stormed and destroyed al-Shifa Hospital more than once. Still, the health ministry in Gaza managed to rebuild some sections and provide medical care to people in one of the places most subjected to ongoing Israeli bombing, Gaza City. 

But with the Israeli army’s recent advance into Gaza City, fears are once again rising of yet another Israeli invasion of the hospital. On top of that, al-Shifa, along with all other hospitals in Gaza, is facing a critical shortage of medical supplies, blood units, staff, beds, and essential medical devices. 

“These are bloody days.” Dr. Hassan Alshaer, medical director at al-Shifa Hospital, said. In recent days, over 60 people have been carried to the hospital dead, and over 175 injuries arrive at the hospital daily, “most of them in critical condition and in need of surgeries and intensive care units. We only have four operational rooms in the hospital.”

In “eight waves” daily, Alshaer describes, casualties and martyrs come to the hospital,  with each wave holding at least 30 people dead and wounded.

“We are struggling due to the Israeli siege and war, but inside al-Shifa, our mission is health care, and we will provide it until the last moment we can,” Dr. Alshaer said. .........more........