Fierce clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants have escalated over the past 10 days, leading to the displacement of around 200,000 Palestinians from northern Gaza. According to reports by the United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA), the spate of violence has severely impacted local healthcare facilities and civilian dwellings, placing an immense burden on the region’s humanitarian capacities.

Hospitals in Crisis

In the face of unrelenting conflict, medical establishments in northern Gaza are bearing the brunt of the chaos. The OCHA disclosed that all but one hospital is non-functional, those outlets now largely serving as makeshift shelters for the displaced. The dire situation is exacerbated by the lack of electricity and depleting medical supplies, leaving patients, infants, and healthcare workers in an alarming predicament.

Historic Scale of Displacement

The statistics released draw attention to the massive scale of displacement, revealing that more than two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have had to flee from their homes since the onset of hostilities six weeks prior. The reason for this mass departure stems from a series of events initiated on October 7th when Hamas launched an unprecedented salvo of missiles and conducted an armed raid into southern Israeli territories.

Israeli Military Response

In retaliation, the Israeli military initiated a large-scale mobilization of 360,000 reservists, coupled with intense aerial bombings. Additionally, Israeli troops engaged directly in Gaza to dismantle Hamas’ operational infrastructure and effectuate the rescue of over 200 hostages.

Humanitarian Aid Hindered

Since October 9th, Israel has imposed severe restrictions on the delivery of essential supplies to the Palestinian enclave, promoting massive civilian migrations towards Gaza’s southern areas where international aid trickles in sporadically. Critically, the lifeline for incoming humanitarian assistance largely hinges on the Rafah crossing bordering Egypt.

The Call for Ceasefire

The international community has focused its attention on the unfolding humanitarian disaster in northern Gaza’s hospitals. Accumulating pressure from various countries has spurred calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Advocates for peace continue to push for a two-state solution as a potential pathway to achieving lasting stability in the region.

The Toll of Conflict

According to the latest official data, the ongoing conflict has resulted in the tragic loss of approximately 1,200 lives in Israel, with close to 5,500 reported injuries. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip has endured almost 11,200 fatalities, including over 4,600 minors, and more than 28,000 injuries.

Compounding the distress, vital resources like hospitals find themselves on the brink as facilities like the Al Amal hospital in southern Gaza are left without electricity due to the loss of generators.