GAZA CITY, May 22, 2018 (MENA) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the health sector in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, having to handle large numbers of victims of Israeli atrocities. Israel intentionally targeted Palestinian protesters near the Gaza-Israel security fence last week, said UNRWA head Pierre Krahenbuhl Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference in Gaza City, Krahenbuhl described the nature of injuries sustained by Palestinian protesters as "shocking". Krahenbuhl said the Israeli army had deliberately targeted protesters' lower limbs, knees, backs and heads. He added that the number of protesters injured since Palestinians began holding rallies near the Gaza-Israel fence on March 30 now exceeded the number of those injured during Israel's destructive 2014 military onslaught on the coastal enclave. Israel's 2014 offensive left more than 2,250 Palestinians dead and thousands more injured -- mostly civilians -- while leaving much of Gaza's infrastructure in ruins. Of the 13,000 Palestinians injured since the Gaza rallies began on March 30, Krahenbuhl said, roughly 3,500 had been struck by live ammunition. According to the UNRWA chief, the large number of casualties -- and the severe nature of many injuries -- had pushed Gaza's health sector to the brink of collapse. On May 14, at least 65 unarmed Palestinian demonstrators in Gaza were martyred -- and thousands more injured -- by intense Israeli army gunfire.
