As Israel intensified airstrikes on the Gaza Strip during ceasefire talks, Gaza's civil defense agency reports Israeli strikes on the territory killed 17 people on Saturday alone, including seven at a UN school housing displaced people.
The Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza was once again targeted by Israel, with a residential building leveled Thursday, leaving a trail of devastation. More than 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens were wounded, with most of them being women and children.
The targeted residential neighborhood was inhabited by hundreds of civilians, many of whom were buried under the rubble of destroyed houses. Their homes now turned into graves.
"We have not been able to pull my family out yet. My brother Ashraf, his wife and their two children are still beneath the rubble, and we are still digging to reach them. All the injured except my brother and his families have been pulled out since nine o'clock last night. It was all in vain," said Mohammed Abu Shawish, brother of the victims.
Israel's continued assault throughout the Gaza Strip has had a massive humanitarian impact on both civilians and medical staff.
Saeed Gouda, northern Gaza's only orthopedic doctor, was recently killed by Israeli forces after being shot in the head.
"Hospitals cannot receive such a large number of injured people. The healthcare system and infrastructure have collapsed because the occupying army has closed all crossings and is preventing the entry of medicine and other crucial medical supplies," said Dr. Khalil Al-Dakran, a medical worker at the Al-Aqsa Hospital.
As officials from Washington signal progress in ceasefire talks and hint at the imminent establishment of a truce, Israeli actions are contrary to this rhetoric.
Days ago, 15 Palestinians, who were securing the arrival of aid trucks at shelters in southern Gaza, were killed by Israeli troops.
"We've noticed a trend. The closer we come to an agreement, the more intense Israel's attacks become. They carry out more assaults, and they target civilians more frequently. All of this happens while the outside conversation in the Arab world and international community is about to reach peace," said Alaa Hassan, a displaced Palestinian.
The continued closure of Gaza's crossings, which ultimately restricts the arrival of humanitarian aid, has created unthinkable conditions for Palestinians, which are inhumane and built on Israeli war crimes.
Over the past over 430 days since the outbreak of the current conflict in October last year, over 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, most of whom have been women and children.
Israel keeps up airstrikes on Gaza as ceasefire talks continue
The Macao Union Hospital, as one of the newest and most advanced healthcare complex in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), is using its state-of-the-art facilities to advancing the region's healthcare services, with a bold vision to establish an international healthcare center and drive comprehensive regional development.
In the second part of the documentary "25 Years of Lotus Bond," produced by the China Media Group (CMG), residents and professionals share their expectations for the Macao Union Hospital, the first large-scale comprehensive public medical institution established by the Government of Macao SAR
As one of the best hospitals in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, Macao Union Hospital possesses around half of Macao's hospital beds and operation room, as well as the first nuclear medicine center, oncology center, and transplant center in the region.
"Patients are coming to our hospital for possibly two reasons. Firstly, for the doctors and the culture of Union Hospital. Secondly, Macao Union Hospital has the best equipment and resources in the Hong Kong-Macao region," said Shen Jie, doctor in the Radiotherapy Department of Macao Union Hospital.
The central government also implemented policies to facilitate the development of Macao Union Hospital.
"The new hospital applied to be a Marketing Authorization Holder, which is equal to a special permission, allowing the hospital to function as a drug import and export agency. And that would greatly benefit patients with complex diseases, rare diseases, and tumors," said Zhang Shuyang, director of Beijing Union Hospital.
"This is a great benefit for promoting the overall medical service level of Macao, and the development of Macao's medical, tourism, and big-health industry," said Lo Iek Long, Head of Macao Health Bureau.
Corresponding with the regional development policy, the central government also granted special permission for medical visas to Macao.
"To support the '1+4' industrial layouts of Macao and promote its appropriate economic diversification, the country also implemented preferential policies that benefit local people and businesses, and introduced medical visas and entry permits to Macao to attract high-tier customers from mainland and surrounding countries and regions to come to Macao for medical services as well as tourism. At its primary stage of construction, Macao Union Hospital has designed to build an international medical service department and healthcare center with first-tier facilities and concepts," said Zhang.
Beyond medicine and healthcare, Macao also expects the hospital to function as a booster for all related sectors, especially tourism.
"How can we better utilize the Union Hospital? It can provide services not only to our Macao residents, but also to many of our tourists. The concept of 'tourism plus' can be 'tourism plus N,' which is to say, any different sectors we are looking forward to developing can resonate with tourism," said Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, head of the Macao Government Tourism Office.
Macao Union Hospital boosts healthcare and regional development
