Displaced Gazans Endure Harsh Conditions in Hospital Courtyard, Reports Reuters

By Ramadan Abed

GAZA – Iqbal al-Zeidi has been regularly going out to recover her family’s belongings from the ruins of their home, which was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City nearly a year ago.

Despite the ongoing threats of bombardment, she has made the journey back to the devastated site to collect bedsheets, clothes, and blankets, bringing them to her current shelter — a tattered tent in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Hospital, located about 10 miles south in Deir Al-Balah.

The nearby tents offer little respite from the oppressive heat, and none from the ongoing attacks that seem to follow them to their new home. On Thursday, local medics reported that four people died when an Israeli airstrike struck tents occupied by other displaced families near the hospital.

Al-Zeidi is among millions of Gazans navigating the besieged and overcrowded enclave, continuously fleeing attacks in one area only to encounter new assaults in the temporary refuge they seek.

"Our house was a 120-square-meter apartment. Now we live in a tent just 4 meters by 4 meters," al-Zeidi said, her exhaustion from the heat evident. "We left our home during the bombing, taking nothing with us — no papers, no certificates, nothing. We are completely erased."

WORSENING HEALTH CONDITIONS

Conditions in Gaza are alarming, characterized by severe shortages of water, medicine, and fuel, with few hospitals remaining operational.

The breakdown of the healthcare system in Gaza has exacerbated various crises, from widespread hunger to the spread of diseases. Those with chronic illnesses find themselves unable to access essential medical care.

"My granddaughter has a heart condition, and we can’t get treatment. I am suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes, but I can’t find any medication," al-Zeidi expressed.

The current conflict escalated on October 7, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250, according to Israeli estimates.

In response, Israel initiated a military campaign that, according to Gaza health authorities, has led to the deaths of more than 40,861 Palestinians.

Israel asserts that it takes extensive measures to avoid civilian casualties, accusing Hamas of employing human shields and operating from schools and hospitals. Hamas contests these claims, alleging that Israel conducts indiscriminate bombings against Palestinians.

Near Al-Aqsa Hospital, al-Zeidi’s eight-month-old grandson sat inside the tent while other family members sought shade nearby.

"Another month will pass, and we will have been here for a year. We are constantly searching for food and water, all amidst diseases," she lamented.