Lebanon: 3 hospitals suspend services due to intensive Israeli raids
Three hospitals, two in southern Lebanon and another on the outskirts of the southern suburb of Beirut, announced the suspension of their services on Friday due to intensive Israeli raids, causing damage to at least one of them.
The administration of the Sainte Therese Hospital in the Hadath area on the outskirts of the southern suburb reported the “suspension of hospital services” after “severe damage” to the building and equipment following violent raids at night in its vicinity.
In southern Lebanon, the Meiss Ej Jabal Hospital’s administration announced the hospital’s evacuation and the “suspension of work in all its departments,” given that all roads and supply lines have been cut and staff access to the hospital is difficult.
The Marjayoun Governmental Hospital also closed its doors after an Israeli raid targeted two ambulances at its main entrance, according to its director.
The director of the hospital, Dr Mounes Kalakash, disclosed: “An Israeli raid targeted ambulances at the main entrance to the hospital, causing confusion and panic among the medical staff and employees.”
He added: “We have been providing medical services to the area since the beginning of the war, but with the shortage in the number of employees and medical staff, today’s bombing accelerated the closure of the hospital.”
The raid killed four paramedics from the Hezbollah-affiliated Islamic Health Authority.
The Marjayoun area on the border with Israel has been witnessing displacement activity for days due to the Israeli raids.
Kalakash explained that the hospital had been operating: “For four days without an anaesthesiologist and laboratory specialists due to the displacement.”
With the repeated targeting of paramedics in several areas, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced a series of diplomatic communications: “To pressure the Israeli enemy to allow rescue and relief teams to reach the sites that were hit by the raids and to allow the transfer of victims and the wounded.”
Mikati denounced: “The Israeli enemy’s violation of international laws and established humanitarian norms.”
Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad announced on Thursday that the total number of paramedics and firefighters who were killed since the escalation between Hezbollah and Israel began a year ago has reached at least 97, including 40 within just three days this week. He added that the toll includes paramedics in official state bodies and others linked to Hezbollah and other Lebanese parties.