Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the intensifying Israeli military actions in Gaza City have led to the closure of four more hospitals in the northern Gaza Strip this month, placing immense strain on medical personnel.

According to Qatar News Agency, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic highlighted in a Geneva press conference that the number of operational hospitals in the Gaza Strip has dwindled to just 14, with none functioning at full capacity.

In the city of Gaza, 16 medical points and 11 primary healthcare centers have been forced to halt services. The remaining eight hospitals and one field hospital are grappling with a critical situation as medical teams are overwhelmed by casualties from Israeli airstrikes alongside other patients.

The WHO emphasized that Gaza City is central to the health system in the Strip, housing nearly half of its hospitals and field hospitals. Facilities in the southern Gaza Strip are already overburdened and unable to take in additional patients.

This situation unfolds as the Israeli military continues its assault on the city, issuing evacuation orders that have displaced hundreds of thousands and damaged health infrastructure. Jasarevic noted that these orders have affected numerous health facilities, creating challenges in access and potentially leading to more closures due to surrounding violence.

He reported that 11 out of 12 attacks on healthcare facilities from September 7 to 17 occurred in Gaza City, with the remaining attack in Khan Yunis. Jasarevic stressed that increasing violence results in more casualties, complicating access to necessary care.

The WHO spokesperson urged for the immediate evacuation of thousands of critically ill and injured patients in need of specialized treatment. He noted that over 15,000 individuals require medical evacuation, but progress is slow. He called for a ceasefire and unrestricted access to support Gaza's health system with needed supplies and medical teams.