Since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, the health sector has suffered widespread destruction from the bombing, and most hospitals and health centers have been completely put out of service. A limited number remain partially operational, facing severe shortages of medical equipment and supplies. Tens of thousands of patients and wounded individuals now require specialized treatments unavailable within the besieged Strip, while medical evacuations abroad remain extremely limited compared to the scale of the needs.
Fifty percent of pharmaceutical products in the sector have been completely depleted, with over 300 types of medications for chronic diseases unavailable, and a 70% shortage of medical supplies, amounting to approximately 550 different types of medications. These warnings align with recent UN reports documenting the ongoing severe shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory reagents. A recent joint UN assessment concluded that more than half of Gaza’s hospitals are out of service due to the damage and destruction inflicted on the healthcare infrastructure.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza repeatedly confirms that functioning hospitals are under immense pressure due to the increasing number of patients and wounded, at a time when they are suffering from a severe shortage of essential medicines, fuel, and spare parts needed to operate medical equipment. UN and international organizations warn that the continued shortage of medicines and medical supplies threatens the lives of thousands of patients, especially those with chronic diseases, cancer, and kidney failure, as well as the wounded who require surgery and specialized care.
UN reports also indicate that a large number of hospitals and health centers in the Gaza Strip have been completely or partially rendered inoperable due to destruction and lack of resources, further exacerbating the difficulty of accessing basic healthcare services for the Strip’s more than two million residents.
