The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza issued an urgent appeal to save what remains of the health services system in the Gaza Strip, two years after the Israeli genocidal war. It warned of a total and deliberate collapse of the health sector, which it described as “the pillar of human existence” in the Strip.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the Ministry affirmed that what is happening in the Gaza Strip goes beyond the description of a traditional humanitarian crisis, noting that the health system is being subjected to what it called “health genocide” due to the systematic destruction of the infrastructure of hospitals and medical centers, most of which have been reduced to ruined concrete structures lacking basic diagnostic and therapeutic care.
The Ministry revealed that the number of martyrs and wounded over the past two years has reached 67,173 and 169,780 wounded, including 20,179 children, 10,427 women, 4,813 elderly people, and 31,754 men. It also documented the martyrdom of 1,701 medical personnel and the arrest of 362 health workers under conditions it described as coercive and in violation of international law.
It explained that 25 of the 38 hospitals are completely out of service, while only 13 hospitals are partially functioning amid extremely difficult humanitarian and logistical conditions. 103 of the 157 primary healthcare centers have been destroyed, leaving only 54 partially functioning as a result of the ongoing targeting and the denial of supplies.
The Ministry explained that the shortage of medical supplies and the interruption of their regular entry have exacerbated the crisis, with 55% of medicines running out of stock, 66% of medical consumables running out of stock, and 68% of laboratory supplies running out of stock, leaving hospitals unable to provide even the most basic services.
It noted that the hospital bed occupancy rate reached 225% by the end of September, compared to 82% during the same period last year, describing it as a “catastrophic” rate, given the sharp increase in the number of infections and critical cases.
It also confirmed that the direct targeting of health facilities destroyed 25 of the 35 oxygen stations and 61 of the 110 electrical generators, leading to a near-total paralysis of hospitals’ ability to function amid ongoing power outages.
The Ministry warned of a worsening famine in the Gaza Strip, noting that 460 deaths due to starvation and malnutrition have been recorded, including 154 children, while more than 51,000 children under the age of five suffer from severe malnutrition.
The statement added that overcrowding in forced assembly areas has led to the spread of infectious diseases, a shortage of potable water, and a lack of food. Meanwhile, childhood vaccination coverage has fallen to 80% due to the ban on vaccine imports and the suspension of the fourth phase of the polio vaccination campaign.
The Ministry indicated that there are 4,900 amputation and disability cases in need of assistive devices and long-term rehabilitation programs, while the closure of the crossings has prevented 18,000 patients from traveling abroad for treatment, including 5,580 children.
The Ministry of Health affirmed that medical personnel in Gaza City continue to perform their humanitarian and national duty despite the immediate dangers threatening their lives and the lives of patients, commending their steadfastness despite the lack of the most basic medical requirements.
The Ministry concluded its statement by issuing an urgent appeal to the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately and ensure the delivery of medical supplies and the continuation of essential services. It called for Israel to be held accountable for its systematic undermining of the health care system in the Gaza Strip, and for the protection of patients’ medical rights and the safety of medical and paramedic staff.
