A maternity hospital should be a place of hope and new beginnings—but in Gaza they are overshadowed by stress and uncertainty. Even in the midst of an offensive, hospitals should be protected. We call for an immediate halt to the violence and concrete measures to protect civilians. 5/5

During the attacks, which continued throughout most of the night, a pregnant patient went into labour. She delivered under extremely stressful conditions and experienced postpartum complications. Both mother and baby are now stable. 4/5

Due to the proximity of tanks to the hospital, medical staff decided to relocate patients to the basement for their safety. This decision prevented patients receiving shrapnel injuries. 3/5

At the time of the impacts, inside Al-Helou Hospital there were, among others, 12 newborns in neonatal intensive care units (NICU), 5 patients in internal medicine, 2 obstetric patients and 54 staff members, according to the Ministry of Health staff. 2/5

Affected communities are still traumatised, processing the loss of their homes and loved ones, and in need of basic items such as clothes, hygiene kits and shelter. They need protection, especially children, some of whom lost their entire families. 4/4

“We treated patients while our teams continued building the clinic, mostly for fever and wound care. In the camp the weather is very hot, and you can see hundreds of tents, with people who keep coming in, we do our best to provide support” Ghausuddin Sabir, MSF emergency nurse. 3/4

MSF is providing medical support in Patang camp, Kunar province, where around 1,000 affected families are being relocated. Medical teams are carrying out outpatient consultations including wound dressing, outbreak prevention, routine vaccination, women’s health and mental health. 2/4

The ongoing blockade and the dangerous and disorganised practices of providing the bare minimum of food to a starving population are fuelling desperation and internal violence, while placing an unbearable burden on Gaza’s collapsing health system. 5/5

The Ministry of Health and nearby hospitals are also overwhelmed. Most trauma cases require major surgeries for limb and abdominal injuries, yet we have no stock of external fixators to heal broken bones, and we are running out of other supplies, including blood and critical antibiotics. 4/5

Al Zawaida field hospital in Deir Al Balah is over capacity, with no space for new patients. Within three weeks, the field hospital increased its bed capacity from 70 to 115 beds, but this still doesn’t come close to meeting the massive medical needs. 3/5

54 people suffered gunshot wounds, crush injuries and stabbings while scrambling for aid. Dangerous “aid points” that distribute tiny quantities of supplies are causing death and injury and are draining exhausted medical teams. 2/5

Since 2 March, no aid has entered the Gaza Strip due to a decision by the Israeli authorities. MSF is running low on essential supplies and fuel needed to sustain its medical response, while the number of critically injured patients continues to rise. 5/5

“Palestinians are being killed and wounded en masse as Israeli forces intensify their attacks across the Strip. The lack of accountability is shocking,” says Claire Manera, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza. “We are running out of words as more lives are crushed every day.” 4/5