Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Blood Donor Needs Soak In Gaza

Medics took Israeli victims to a hospital in Gaza. (ANTARA)

STAMBUL - Health officials on Sunday said the need for blood donations in the war-torn Gaza Strip was "very urgent".

"The Ministry of Health asked the public to immediately donate their blood to Shifa Hospital, all hospitals in the Gaza Strip, and branches of the Blood Bank Association," read a statement issued by the ministry.

The statement comes amid bombings by Israel in Gaza that continue, where hospitals struggle to save those injured after being attacked for more than a week, while supplies of water and electricity have been suspended.

Israel's ground operations are also expected to begin soon.

Last week, amid dramatically escalating Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a powerful sustainable military offensive in the Gaza Strip, a retaliation for a military attack by Palestinian Hamas groups in Israeli territory.

The conflict began when Hamas began Operation Hurricane Al-Aqsa against Israel, a sudden attack on all corners including a series of rocket launches and infiltration into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was retaliation for the invasion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and the increasing violence of Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched an Iron Sword Operation targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response extends to cuts off water and electricity supplies to Gaza, which further worsens living conditions in areas that have been experiencing a crippling siege since 2007, and has ordered more than 1 million Gazans on the northern route to flee to the southern region.