Only Three ICU Hospital Beds for all of Montgomery County?

My Episcopalian neighbor writes today, "Our Episcopal hospital is now the only operational ICU in northern Gaza, with three beds. It was mentioned briefly on CNN last night." That is the equivalent of 3 ICU beds for all of the population of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Ahli is now the sole hospital in northern Gaza with active ICU beds — just three beds to serve an entire region. The burn unit treats 150 patients daily, while over 600 outpatients seek care each day. The hospital’s only CT scanner runs 24/7, performing more than 100 scans daily. Dr. Maher, Ahli’s medical director, fears the inevitable breakdown of vital equipment, knowing there are no replacement parts or new machines in sight.

In the news, the Israeli defense minister just issued “a final warning” to the population of Gaza in an apparent declaration of genocidal intent, as he orchestrates killing dozens or hundreds of civilians every day. It reminds me of my visit to Dachau as a youth., in 1974.

The child surviving in Gaza today can no more control the actions of Hamas militants than I can control the actions of President Trump's militants. Bombing civilians in Gaza, in the West Bank, is a war crime. Forced relocation is a war crime. The United States (under both Democratic and Republican leadership) provides the funding, the munitions, and the diplomatic cover for the genocide. On and on it goes, the U.S. enabling Israel's own unfolding suicide.

One slogan that seems to be coming true is this: What the US. government does to Palestinians in the Middle East, it will soon do to Americans in the United States. So now we witness that happening. Homelessness. Forced relocation. Disappearances. Wrecking education, health, and sanitation. The wanton destruction of The People's property and treasure. Here in the U.S.

I'll see you at the Zoom webinar, on the street, signing petitions, at the protest.

Steven Sellers (Muskrat) Lapham
Gaithersburg, Maryland