Palestinians stand on ruined houses in northern Gaza (Photo: Reuters).
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned on October 23 that the situation in the Gaza Strip is now a "real humanitarian disaster".
In a post on social media X, UNRWA shared messages from people in Gaza who said they had been living without water and electricity for 12 days.
Messages show some people are having to use untreated water for drinking and are running out of fuel for cooking.
Palestinian health authorities in the West Bank confirmed that as of October 23, at least 5,087 people have been killed and 15,273 injured in Gaza since the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas forces on October 7.
Meanwhile, in the West Bank, at least 95 Palestinians have been killed and 1,828 injured since the Hamas offensive and Israeli retaliation.
Palestinians take shelter in tents at a UN-run centre in Khan Younis, Gaza (Photo: Reuters).
According to health authorities, the Gaza Strip has recorded 250 attacks on medical facilities, leaving a large part of the population without adequate medical assistance.
The health authority also warned of the impact on health infrastructure, saying 10 of the 35 hospitals in the Gaza Strip – or 28% of facilities – were currently out of service. Of these, nine had been “destroyed or put out of service”.
The health sector also lost 54 more health workers and more than 90 were injured. Ambulances were also affected, with 50 hit and 23 currently out of service.
According to health officials, epidemics have also emerged due to the deterioration of the medical environment. Hospitals are almost collapsing, having to operate at more than 150% capacity.
The situation has become so dire that surgeries are being performed without anesthesia and in some cases, under the light of cell phone lights.
"Patients are being treated in corridors, on floors and other inappropriate places. For example, Al-Shifa medical facility is treating 5,000 patients a day, while its capacity is only 700," the Palestinian health authority added.
Since Hamas' surprise attack on October 7, Israel has mobilized some 360,000 reservists and massed significant forces around the Gaza Strip. The Israeli air force has attacked the densely populated Gaza Strip in large-scale raids.
Israel is said to be preparing to launch a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip to "wipe out" Hamas.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said Israel would not launch a ground operation in Gaza if Hamas surrendered "unconditionally" and released all hostages.
"If Hamas comes out of hiding under the cover of civilians and returns our hostages, all 212 of them, and surrenders unconditionally, the war will end," Mr. Conricus said.
He warned that if the militants do not comply with the above conditions, Israeli forces may enter the Gaza Strip and carry out an offensive operation.
The IDF said on October 23 that Israeli soldiers are participating in exercises aimed at improving "readiness and operational capabilities for ground operations" in Gaza.
The IDF said that "soldiers and commanders" were "training in battle groups" combining forces from the infantry corps, armored corps and other Israeli units.
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