World Health Organization spokeswoman Margaret Harris said that the Israeli blockade is preventing the maintenance of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip, which has been rendered out of service due to the recent bombing.

This came in a written response to Harris on Monday regarding developments at the hospital and the condition of patients and medical staff.

Harris reported that 40 patients were in "critical" condition and could not be transferred to another hospital, noting that some medical staff remained there to care for them.

"The damage to the hospital is so extensive that it can no longer provide any services or admit new patients," she added.

She explained that the laboratory and radiology departments had sustained severe damage, and that the Israeli blockade was preventing the entry of any equipment or spare parts for maintenance.

On Sunday morning, Israeli warplanes bombed the Baptist Hospital, destroying one of its buildings and damaging and setting fire to several of its departments, putting it out of service.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City was out of service after being bombed by the Israeli army.

With full American support, Israel has continued its genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 167,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them women and children, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons.

Israel has been blockading Gaza for the 18th year, leaving approximately 1.5 million of its 2.4 million Palestinian citizens homeless after their homes were destroyed in the war of extermination. The Strip has entered a state of famine due to Tel Aviv's closure of the crossings to humanitarian aid.