Medical staff at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital refuse to leave despite Israeli evacuation orders
GAZA, Aug. 26 (YPA) – Mohammed al-Hajj, the communications director at Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Hospital in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, confirmed that medical teams continue to provide healthcare services to patients despite evacuation orders issued by the Israeli occupation forces.
In statements made today, Al-Hajj highlighted that Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital is currently serving over one million displaced people.
He warned that halting the hospital’s operations would trigger a major health and humanitarian disaster, with the potential to result in patients dying in the streets.
Al-Hajj stated that the hospital currently has 7 critically ill patients in the intensive care unit and approximately 100 patients in other hospital departments who require ongoing medical care.
He also noted that some patients and displaced persons have left the hospital out of fear of being targeted by Israeli attacks.
Al-Hajj pointed out that the hospital has not received a direct evacuation order from the Israeli occupation forces. However, the hospital is located within the evacuation zone specified in the evacuation notice published by the occupation forces on Sunday.
The Israeli occupation forces issued evacuation orders for a residential area surrounding Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza. As a result, thousands of civilians who were in the hospital have been displaced, fearing a similar invasion to past attacks on hospitals during the conflict.
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah has called on international organizations and the Red Cross to offer protection for this vital medical facility, which is the sole remaining hospital in the central region of Gaza.
@E.Y.M