Humanitarian crisis worsens in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war intensifies

Several hospitals in Gaza have reported receiving a high number of civilian casualties on Wednesday. 

Al-Nasser hospital in southern Gaza issued a list of 45 people who had been killed, whose bodies had been brought to the hospital. The hospital frequently receives casualties from the city of Khan Younis, where fighting and air strikes have been heavy.

Medical staff at Al-Kuwaiti hospital in Rafah — also in southern Gaza — said 19 bodies were recovered after two houses in the area were hit by airstrikes. Some were taken to another hospital — Abu Youssef Al-Najjah — in eastern Rafah, along with many injured. 

Videos shot for CNN at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza on Wednesday showed many casualties being brought in after a reported strike in Deir al Balah.

The videos show ambulances bringing in men and women on stretchers, as well as body bags at the entrance of the hospital.

Inside the hospital, most of the injured are seen being treated on the floors amid chaotic scenes. Several of the injured have severe injuries to their limbs, while efforts are made by medical staff to resuscitate others.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it is trying to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza while it carries out ground and air operations against Hamas throughout Gaza.

“There is a clear intent by the Israelis, an intent that they have admitted to publicly, that they are doing everything they can to reduce civilian casualties. And we’re still seeing some civilian casualties. So we’re still going to talk to them about doing everything they can to reduce that,” US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told CNN Wednesday.

US President Joe Biden on Tuesday said that Israel was beginning to lose global support in its war against Hamas because of “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza.

The war’s impact on Gaza: As tens of thousands more people converge in southern Gaza, the United Nations has said on X (formerly Twitter) that “amid overcrowded conditions, the spread of diseases is surging, and people’s immense needs are escalating. UNICEF (the UN Children’s Fund) says a humanitarian ceasefire is desperately needed to allow the delivery of life-saving support to children & families.”

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said nearly 1.3 million displaced people are now sheltering in 155 UNRWA installations. The average number of internally displaced persons in UNRWA shelters located in middle and southern areas in Gaza is 11,480 — more than four times their capacity. 

UNRWA said that eight out of 22 UNRWA health centers are still operational in the middle and southern areas.

The agency added in its Wednesday update that “there are an estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with more than 180 giving birth every day. A total of 188 post-natal and high-risk pregnancy cases were attended to at health centres.”