Dying in bombs cannot be the only option left for people in Gaza –MSF

Doctors Without Borders or Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Monday called on the Israeli authorities to show humanity, noting that "dying under bombs in Gaza cannot be the only option left to people."

In a video statement from Doctors Without Borders General Director Claire Magone said Gaza hospitals were overwhelmed, and no painkillers were left.

"Our staff tells us about the wounded screaming in pain, the injured, the sick who cannot get to the hospital, and the terror of finding themselves bombed in a few hours," Magone said.

Access to water and food was also tough as Gaza's water shortage had reached a critical threshold.

"The Israeli authorities, by imposing a total siege on Gaza, have also cut off the possibility of running water treatment and distribution plants. Due to a lack of fuel, there is now no longer any drinking water being produced in Gaza," she said.

With this, she called on the Israeli authorities to organize and maintain areas where people "can hope to be spared from the bombs."

She also asked for a quick organization of the evacuation routes.

Meanwhile, Louis Baudoin, Doctors Without Borders Field Communications Manager in Gaza, said he was with thousands of Palestinians as they took refuge from the Gaza Strip on Sunday after the Israeli authorities asked them to evacuate.

"At last count, last night, I was told there were about 10,000 people here," he said.

"People came here to seek some safety, but they are still afraid; they wonder what will happen. People often come to us asking if we have information, but we don't have any either," he added.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to "demolish Hamas" as his troops prepared to move into the Gaza Strip in pursuit of Hamas militants whose deadly rampage through Israeli border towns shocked the world.

Israel has urged exhausted Gazans to evacuate south, which hundreds of thousands have already done in the besieged enclave that is home to more than 2 million people.

Hamas, which runs Gaza, has told people to ignore Israel's message. — DVM, GMA Integrated News