Gaza’s health and communications infrastructure is collapsing under the strain of intense fighting. Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said Sunday, with Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa, “no longer functioning as a hospital” after days without power, water or reliable internet and “constant gunfire and shelling in the area.” The Israel Defense Forces denied attacking al-Shifa hospital or attacking civilians. Another major hospital, al-Quds, is out of service due to power outages and fuel shortages, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said. Palestinian officials predict communications and internet in the enclave will shut down completely this week if it does not receive fuel and after significant damage to infrastructure from Israeli strikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military strike, telling NBC News that his forces are trying to “minimize civilian casualties.”
