Palestinian Health Ministry warns of Gaza 'disaster'

The Palestinian Health Ministry warned Saturday of a "real disaster" in the embattled Gaza Strip due to severe shortages in medical supplies, as Israel continued to pound the blockaded strip for the 13th day.

"The medical supply stock will run out in a few days," Ashraf Abu Mahadi, the Health Ministry's top pharmacist, told reporters at Gaza's Al-Shefaa medical complex.

"Arab and international organizations must shoulder their responsibilities of providing aid to save the lives of injured Gazans," Abu Mahadi said.

Abu Mahadi said that electricity has been cut off in two northern Gaza hospitals since Friday evening, going on to call on international actors to pressure Israel to reconnect Gaza's power supply.

A statement by Gaza's electricity authority on Friday said that Israel has disconnected Gaza's main power supply source, adding that it caused a 90 percent electricity shortage.

At least 339 people have been killed and nearly 2390 injured in relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian health officials.

Since July 7, Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip, home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, with crippling air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire emanating from the strip.

On Thursday night, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending troops into the embattled coastal enclave.

Israel's military operation, dubbed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against Gaza in the last six years.