Gaza’s last lifelines gone - all public hospitals in North Gaza ‘out of service’ after Israeli bombing

The health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza in Palestine said on Sunday that effectively all public hospitals in the north of the territory were now “out of service” after the Israeli military took seige of an Indonesian hospital.

“The Israeli occupation has intensified its siege with heavy fire around the Indonesian hospital and its surroundings, preventing the arrival of patients, medical staff, and supplies -- effectively forcing the hospital out of service,” the health ministry said.

“All public hospitals in the North Gaza governorate are now out of service,” it further noted.

The Indonesian hospital was the last functioning public hospital in the war battered territory.

The Israeli military did not release a statement regarding conflict around the hospital.

Northern Gaza's previous main hospital, Kamal Adwan, was forced to stop serving Palestinians last year because of Israeli strikes, as was a second facility, Beit Hanoun Hospital.

The healthcare system in Gaza is barely operational due to repeated bombings by Israel on its hospitals. The blockade on aid supplies has compounded its difficulties, and worsened widespread hunger, for which Israel blames Hamas.

Israel bombings in Gaza kill at least 100

At least 100 Palestinians across the Gaza strip were killed by latest Israeli airstrikes, Reuters reported quoting local authoriies on Sunday.

"We have at least 100 martyrs since overnight. Complete families were wiped off the civil registration record by Israeli bombardment," Khalil Al-Deqran, Gaza health ministry spokesperson, was quoted by Reuters as saying.

No comments from the Israeli military were available immediately.

The fresh strikes come as mediators Egypt and Qatar, backed by the United States, began a new round of indirect ceasefire talks between the two sides on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Israel has since Thursday expanded its strikes on the Gaza Strip, killing hundreds of Palestinians in the area, in preparation for a new ground offensive to achieve “operational control” in parts of the enclave.

One of the overnight strikes conducted by Israel hit a tent encampment housing displaced families in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing women and children, wounding dozens and setting several tents ablaze.

Hamas described the strike as a "new brutal crime" and blamed the US administration for the escalation.