The number of casualties from barbaric ‘israeli’ airstrikes targeting Gaza has exceeded 46,000

In the past 24 hours, ongoing bombardments in the region have resulted in the deaths of at least 70 Palestinians, while 104 others have sustained injuries.

Raed Haniya, a healthcare professional at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, has reported on the critical conditions faced by medical teams in Gaza.

In the midst of intense bombardments that lead to a surge in casualties, medical teams are compelled to prioritize treatment for patients according to the seriousness of their injuries, he informed Sanad, Al Jazeera’s fact-checking division.

Haniya noted that medical professionals frequently assume dual responsibilities, acting both as healthcare providers and as sources of emotional support for their patients.

“We are in the position of providing solace to patients who have faced the unimaginable loss of their entire families, assisting them in dealing with profound grief as we address their physical injuries,” he stated.

The psychological burden on healthcare professionals is significant. Haniya explained, “Witnessing children with severe injuries and burns in the hospitals is overwhelming. It is impossible not to envision your own child in their situation.”

In Deir el-Balah, a city situated in the heart of the region, a somber assembly took place as dozens convened outside Al-Aqsa Hospital to conduct funeral prayers for individuals who lost their lives in the airstrikes the day before. Within the confines of the hospital morgue, heartbroken family members paid poignant and emotional farewells to their deceased loved ones.

Munawar al-Bik, a displaced resident of Khan Younis in Gaza, has described the dire living conditions in the region as “unlivable.” Speaking out amid the rubble of a demolished building and a sea of makeshift tents populated by displaced families, al-Bik made an emotional appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities. “This is no way to live. No one could endure what we’re experiencing, even for a single day,” she stated. “The situation is unbearable. We are exhausted. We want this to end now.”

An airstrike targeting a residential dwelling in Deir el-Balah resulted in the tragic loss of four lives and inflicted injuries on multiple individuals. Eyewitness accounts, such as that of resident Khalil al-Dibji, describe a scene shrouded in dust that severely obscured visibility. Al-Dibji recounted his frantic search for his children, managing to locate his eldest daughter unharmed and successfully rescuing his two younger sons. His other daughter was subsequently recovered from beneath the debris.

Initially, Al-Dibji feared his wife had perished beneath the rubble, but subsequent developments revealed she had survived the incident.

The individual raised a poignant inquiry, asking, “Why are civilians being targeted by Israeli forces? We are ordinary citizens and there is no opposition active here,” he stated.

Medical professionals in Gaza have expressed the immense difficulties they face while operating in the conflict zone. Dr. Marwan al-Hams, the director of the now-destroyed Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, recounted the emotional toll of providing care to individuals personally known to him.

He expressed that the most challenging times are those when one must confront the reality of seeing family members, coworkers, and close friends among the deceased.

Al-Hams detailed a harrowing assault on refugee camps in Rafah, which claimed the lives of three family members and inflicted serious injuries on several others, including children who endured amputations. The 50-year-old further disclosed that his residence had been demolished. “My granddaughters approach me seeking warmth and blankets, yet I am unable to offer them such solace,” he lamented.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Telegram that since October 7, 2023, the conflict in Israel has resulted in the deaths of 46,006 Palestinians and left 109,378 others injured.