The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that hospitals in the sector received 50 martyrs and 184 injured in the past 24 hours, amid internal and external warnings about the unprecedented collapse of the humanitarian situation in the area.

Sources in Gaza hospitals reported 29 people killed by Israeli army fire since dawn Monday, including 23 in Gaza City. The Ministry confirmed the death toll has risen to 66,055 martyrs and 168,346 injured since October 7, 2023.

Al-Nasser Medical Complex stated that 4 Palestinians waiting for aid were killed by Israeli forces near aid centers north of Rafah. The complex confirmed that the injury of a nurse inside the hospital by Israeli fire was a clear assassination attempt on medical staff.

Catastrophic Situation

The director of ambulance and emergency services in Gaza and the north told Al Jazeera that ambulance teams’ movement is limited due to Israeli forces, with 80% of ambulances out of service. Most hospitals in the northern governorate and Gaza City are out of service, and the health situation in Gaza City is dire.

The UN Office Commissioner in the Palestinian Territories described the situation as catastrophic and difficult for residents and international workers, with ongoing Israeli violations.

Doctors Without Borders announced suspension of life-saving medical activities due to the intense Israeli assault on Gaza City, warning that Israeli forces besiege clinics and hundreds of patients, including children and newborns, are in grave danger.

Blood Banks Threatened with Shutdown

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza warned Monday of an imminent complete shutdown of blood banks in the few operating hospitals due to a severe shortage of laboratory supplies necessary for transporting and testing blood units and components.

The ministry stated that this comes alongside a severe shortage of blood units and components, hindering emergency interventions for the wounded and life-saving efforts.

Repeatedly, the ministry has issued warnings about the critical shortage of blood units affecting the lives of patients and wounded Palestinians amid escalating Israeli attacks causing hundreds of casualties needing blood units.

With famine spreading, community blood collection campaigns have declined due to Palestinians’ inability to donate because of malnutrition, who were the last source for these units amid the tightening Israeli siege.

In addition to the severe blood shortage, Gaza’s health sector suffers from a critical lack of medicines and medical supplies due to the near-complete Israeli closure of crossings since March 2023, blocking relief, humanitarian, and medical aid.

Evacuation Warning

Separately, the Israeli army on Monday warned of evacuating several houses near Al-Shifa Medical Complex, crowded with tens of thousands of Palestinians west of Gaza City, in preparation for shelling.

Eyewitnesses reported that the army warned 4 multi-story residential buildings on Abu Hasira Street for immediate evacuation ahead of shelling. Hundreds of Palestinians living in these buildings and surroundings fled in panic without taking essential belongings.

When the Israeli army warns of evacuating residential buildings, it is done via phone calls by officers to residents or through official notices and statements.

Abu Hasira Street has witnessed intensive Israeli airstrikes in recent days, destroying residential buildings housing thousands of Palestinians.

On August 8, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, and the army launched a large-scale attack on August 11 under the operation named “Gideon’s Vehicles 2,” involving house demolitions with explosive robots, artillery shelling, random shooting, forced displacement, and ground incursions.

About 900,000 Palestinians refuse to evacuate Gaza City and move south despite the dangerous conditions, according to a government media office statement on Friday.

With US support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in 66,055 martyrs and 168,346 injured, mostly children and women, and famine that claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians including 147 children.