Gaza rescue efforts may stop due to lack of fuel, equipment: Civil defence

Gaza's civil defence spokesperson said that hundreds of lives are at risk as their crews struggle to carry out rescue efforts due to the shortage of fuel and heavy equipment.

Rescue workers are struggling to reach people trapped under the rubble as Israeli forces "continue to target and destroy the heavy equipment that helps us recover the victims," he said.

Speaking at a press conference outside al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, he added fuel shortage may bring operations to a "total halt".

"As we speak, hundreds of victims remain buried under the rubble and our teams are not able to recover them. These numbers are continuing to rise."

At least 69 civil defence members have been killed in the war, and the crews were able to carry out 37,500 "humanitarian missions", the spokesperson said.