World Bulletin/News Desk

Palestinian Health Ministry on Tuesday said that it suspended services in several of its facilities in the southern provinces of the Gaza Strip due to a shortage in basic medical supplies.

In an a statement, health ministry undersecretary in Gaza Youssef Abu al-Rish blamed the move to the "absence of the unity government's role in carrying out its responsibilities towards the health sector" in Gaza.

"The unity government's negligence in providing operating expenses to the ministry's facilities has led to the suspension of cleaning and nutrition services," Abu al-Rish said.

"It has also resulted in a shortage of medicine, fuel and other needed supplies," he added.

Abu al-Rish also noted that the ministry has decided to suspend all non-emergency surgeries and warned that the ambulance service might suffer the same fate.

Three hospitals are currently under the threat of being shut down, namely Harazin Hospital, Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in southern Gaza, and Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, said Abu al-Rish.

He also called on all concerned authorities to shoulder their responsibility in protecting the rights of patients and saving the healthcare system in the blockaded enclave.

The formation of the unity government is part of an agreement reached by the two rival factions Hamas and Fatah last April, which also stipulated that elections be held after six months from the formation of the government.

Yet, the date has passed amid deep differences between the two camps.