500 Palestinian Health Officers Killed, 310 Arrested And 130 Ambulances Destroyed By Israeli Attacks

The ambulance convoy in Gaza. (Twitter/@WHO)

JAKARTA - The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed nearly 500 health workers were killed and hundreds injured, since Israel launched an attack on Gaza in October last year.

Launching WAFA August 11, the ministry detailed that more than 310 people had been arrested and 130 ambulances had been destroyed by Israeli forces in Gaza.

In addition, health facilities and staff in the West Bank have faced more than 340 Israeli attacks during the same period.

The ministry further explained that targeting intentional medical infrastructure by Israeli occupation forces has severely hampered citizens' access to essential health services.

Conditions worsening over water and sanitation, exacerbated by population density, have led to an increase in preventable disease and premature death, according to the statement.

"Gaza is now facing a public health disaster due to unsafe water resources and a lack of basic hygiene needs for more than 1.7 million people who have forcibly fled," the ministry added.

The statement also noted a critical shortage of health workers and medical supplies, including anesthesia and antibiotics, which have left health care providers struggling to save lives.

The Ministry of Health also called for unconditional humanitarian assistance to address severe shortages and help evacuate injured victims to receive medical care that save lives abroad.

So far, Israel's aggression against Gaza, in retaliation for the attack by the Palestinian militant group led by Hamas on Israel's southern region, has injured 39,790 documented Palestinians, mostly women and children, in addition to 91,702 injured.