A senior official at Shuhadaa Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah has revealed alarming details about the unprecedented injuries inflicted on Gaza’s population due to Israel's use of "strange" weapons. According to Dr. Maher al-Shafei, deputy head of the men’s surgery department, 4 out of every 10 victims arrive at the hospital with most of their bodies missing. These injuries, described as "frightening," often involve fractures, burns, and wounds that indicate the use of unconventional weaponry.
The reports from central Gaza are consistent with similar findings in the northern Gaza Strip, where medical professionals have documented injuries suggesting that the weapons being used cause the “evaporation” of bodies. Dr. al-Shafei described one recent case involving a young man who arrived at the hospital with fractures in his feet, arms, and legs, as well as burns and puncture wounds resembling tiny nails scattered across his body.
Al-Shafei, with 34 years of experience in the Ministry of Health, confirmed that the types of injuries and weapons seen during this conflict are entirely unprecedented. He estimates that 75% of the injured require prolonged hospitalization, with 30% suffering critical injuries. Between 40% and 50% of patients require surgical intervention, further straining Gaza’s already overwhelmed healthcare system.
Since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, over 107,000 Palestinians have been injured and more than 45,000 killed, the majority of whom are women and children, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. Shuhadaa Al-Aqsa Hospital, the only facility serving the central governorate, is struggling to cope with the influx of patients. Originally equipped with 200 beds, it now accommodates more than 600 patients, operating at 180% capacity.
The hospital’s resources are stretched to breaking point. Dr. al-Shafei highlighted severe shortages of essential medical supplies, including oxygen, anesthesia, painkillers, antibiotics, gauze, and bandages. Staff are forced to make agonising decisions, prioritising the most critical cases due to the lack of resources. Surgeries have been limited to emergencies, with the hospital performing up to 50 operations daily—compared to just 40–50 surgeries per week before the conflict began.
With hundreds of thousands displaced to Deir al-Balah amid the ongoing assault, the burden on Shuhadaa Al-Aqsa Hospital has only increased. The facility itself has come under attack, further endangering its ability to function. Dr. al-Shafei stressed that only an end to the violence and the establishment of new hospitals equipped with adequate beds and medical supplies can alleviate Gaza’s mounting healthcare crisis.
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