CAIRO, Oct 17, (Agencies): A Palestinian doctor found himself in a heart-wrenching situation as he treated victims of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. His own son's lifeless body was brought to the hospital, a tragic consequence of the Israeli bombing. The doctor's family, including other injured members, were also present at the hospital on Sunday, as their home had been struck by Israeli bombs.

A video circulating on social media captures the doctor trying to console his grieving wife, while another one of his sons cries and clings to him for support. These scenes depict the human toll of the ongoing conflict.

Israel initiated sustained airstrikes on the Gaza Strip in response to a daring surprise attack by Hamas, the ruling authority in the territory, on October 7th. The situation has escalated to the point where Israel has imposed a comprehensive blockade on Gaza, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies, including food, electricity, fuel, and medicines.

The medical facilities in Gaza are under immense strain, with dwindling medical supplies and fuel reserves. Health organizations have sounded the alarm, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that the Gaza health system is on the brink of collapse. WHO stated that urgent action is needed to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. Hospitals in Gaza are down to just a few hours of electricity per day, and they are forced to ration fuel for critical functions. Without immediate intervention, even these critical services will come to a halt when fuel stocks are depleted.

The consequences are dire, particularly for the most vulnerable patients, including those in need of life-saving surgery, those in intensive care units, and newborns relying on incubators for their care. The situation in Gaza remains a matter of grave concern for humanitarian organizations and the international community.