09 December 2023 , 21:59
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Cradled at a hospital in Gaza, a wounded child’s face is caked in the blood of war.
As Israel’s bombardment of the Palestinian territory continued yesterday, a director at the hospital where the youngster was treated admitted his team was overwhelmed by casualties. Nahed Abu Taima of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said: “We lost control in the face of the large number of injured people arriving. With the Israeli bombing of several areas in Khan Younis, we are forced to treat the injured on the ground and in the corridors of the departments in light of the lack of medical supplies.”
The US on Friday vetoed a UN resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire. According to Hamas-run health ministry figures, Gaza’s death toll has exceeded 17,000 since the war was sparked by the militant group’s October 7 strikes against Israel. UN World Food Programme deputy executive director Carl Skau estimates that around half of Gaza’s population is now starving.
He said: “The needs we are meeting is nothing – the humanitarian operation is collapsing. With the chaos, with this active fighting, it’s not possible to do the work needed to meet these massive needs and so we need supplies at a completely different scale.”
Marchers in central London (PA)Speaking from Gaza, Save the Children country director Jason Lee demanded “urgent action” from world leaders to help “displaced children in chronic condition without access to food and healthcare”.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
The charity highlighted data from last week showing at least 7,865 under-fives were suffering from severe wasting – meaning they need urgent care to avoid death. One Save the Children worker said: “I know people who have not eaten food for three days.”
Meanwhile, in London the Metropolitan Police arrested a man carrying a placard comparing Israel with Nazi Germany as thousands of protesters joined a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march. He was held on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, the force said.
A further arrest was made over an “offensive placard”.