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Al-Ahram Weekly

1,500 Palestinians lost their eyesight in Israeli genocide in Gaza - War on Gaza

Around 1,500 Palestinians have lost their eyesight in the besieged Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli genocidal war, Palestinian medical officials said on Sunday. They added that another 4,000 Palestinians are at risk of a similar fate. Dr. Abdulsalam Sabah, director of the Eye Hospital in Gaza City, said in a press statement on Sunday that the health sector faces a severe shortage of essential medical equipment and surgical supplies related to eye care, leading to the collapse of ophthalmic surgical services in the Strip. He noted that the hospital has only three reusable eye scissors, which are repeatedly used in ophthalmic surgeries, thus posing serious risks to patients' health and safety. According to the hospital's director, the Eye Hospital in Gaza is on the verge of shutting down completely as essential medical equipment nears total depletion. Moreover, Palestinian ophthalmologists indicated that the relentless Israeli bombardment has led to a near-total breakdown in medical services for cases involving retinal diseases, diabetic retinopathy, and trauma-related internal bleeding. Critical supplies such as hyaluronic acid and ultra-fine surgical sutures are nearly exhausted. Many eye injuries caused by explosions urgently require these materials, and without them, treatment is impossible, Palestinian doctors said. On 2 March, Israel blocked the entry of all lifesaving supplies, including food, medicine and fuel, plunging the territory of 2.3 million people into what is believed to be the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began. Two weeks later, Israel shattered an eight-week-long ceasefire deal in Gaza by resuming deadly bombardment, killing at least 2,700 Palestinians since then. In its latest update, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Sunday that 19 people were killed and 81 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza over the past 24 hours. The latest figures bring the total number of Palestinians killed by Israel since October 2023 to 52,829 people, mainly children and women, with 119,554 others wounded. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link: