Hundreds missing from Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Hospital, only 5 doctors remain: WHO
Gaza: The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, the primary medical facility in the governorate of Deir el-Balah, has faced severe disruption as a result of intensified bombing, leading to the evacuation of both medical staff and approximately 600 patients. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations (UN) reported the concerning situation after visiting the hospital on Sunday.
Witnessing distressing scenes, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described people of all ages receiving treatment on blood-streaked floors and in chaotic corridors. The hospital, critical for providing medical services in the region, is now facing challenges due to the evacuation orders and safety concerns, with a significant reduction in the number of health staff. As of the latest reports, only five doctors remain, and the existing personnel are experiencing shortages of essential supplies, including food.
According to a post from the Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, his staff witnessed “sickening scenes of people of all ages being treated on blood-streaked floors and in chaotic corridors.
“Al Aqsa is the most important hospital remaining in Gaza’s Middle Area and must remain functional, and protected, to deliver its lifesaving services,” Dr Ghebreyesus stated.
“Further erosion of its functionality cannot be permitted – doing so in the face of such trauma, injury and humanitarian suffering would be a moral and medical outrage.”
“During today’s mission, we were informed that evacuation orders and lack of safety had forced most health staff to leave. Tonight’s reports indicate that only 5 doctors remain. Hospital management said health workers had no food,” WHO chief wrote.
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) reported the cessation of life-saving and critical activities by their emergency medical team at the hospital due to increased Israeli military activity. The UN and WHO dispatched an emergency team that distributed medical supplies, including support for dialysis and trauma care for thousands of patients. Plans for deploying additional emergency staff are in progress to address the escalating humanitarian crisis at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.
The WHO Director-General emphasized the importance of preserving the hospital's functionality to deliver life-saving services amid the ongoing trauma, injury, and humanitarian suffering.
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Trump’s fresh threat to bomb Iran amid reports of deal to end war
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Iran with more bombing if it doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, amid a report that the warring sides were nearing an agreement to end the war.
US media outlet Axios reported, quoting US officials and two other sources, that the US and Iran were getting close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.
The US expects Iranian responses on several key points over the next 48 hours, Axios reported, adding that nothing has been agreed yet. This was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began.
"Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before," Trump said.
According to Axios, the deal would involve Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, the US agreeing to lift its sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds, and both sides lifting restrictions around transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
It said many of the terms laid out in the memo would be contingent on a final agreement being reached, leaving the possibility of renewed war or an extended limbo in which the hot war has stopped, but nothing is truly resolved.
