DUBAI, November 8. /TASS/. All hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip continue to provide services, Palestinian Health Minister Mai Kailah told Sky News Arabia.
"All hospitals continue to operate in the south [of the Gaza Strip]," she said. "I would also like to clarify that all [the aid] which comes to the Gaza Strip, even though it is meager and barely a drop in the ocean, is going to the south, unfortunately, following Israel’s order," the Palestinian health minister added.
In addition, Kailah indicated that the statistics, which have been published by the ministry, on fatalities and casualties caused by the escalation are accurate.
"We record everyone by name, that is, each by name, ID number, place of residence, in what condition they arrived and from where," the minister said.
"The data is 100% accurate, as we receive it from missions in the Gaza Strip and from our colleagues. <…> Israel can say whatever it wants, but the data is real and we have it," she added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Al Jazeera reported citing a source in Gaza that the enclave’s 18 hospitals had halted operations. The situation in medical institutions is catastrophic, especially in the north, the source told the television channel, adding that the enclave lacks medicine, food and fuel. According to the latest statistics from Gaza’s health ministry, the death toll has risen to 10,569 in the enclave since the conflict escalated.
Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory on October 7. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank. On October 27, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the IDF was expanding its ground operation in Gaza.