Gaza City: The Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, has raised alarms over the severe deterioration of the healthcare sector in the region, attributing the crisis to a substantial shortage of medicines and medical supplies due to the ongoing blockade by Israeli occupation authorities.
According to Qatar News Agency, Abu Salmiya highlighted that this blockade has led to an unprecedented collapse in public health services, severely affecting medical assistance for the sick and injured, as well as the general population. He described the health situation as "extremely critical," with the siege and prevention of aid entry exacerbating the crisis and severely hindering hospital operations and the services of the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Abu Salmiya reported that over 43 percent of kidney failure patients in Gaza have died due to the lack of necessary treatment. He also noted that malnutrition is weakening the immune systems of children, with many hospital cases linked to inadequate nutrition. The systematic targeting and destruction of medical facilities by Israeli forces have further crippled the healthcare system, leading to the shutdown of most medical laboratories and a critical shortage of medical supplies, particularly anesthesia medications for surgeries.
The recent announcement by the Ministry of Health about the closure of Al-Durra Children's Hospital following an Israeli strike, and the bombardment of Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which led to its shutdown and patient redistribution, underscores the escalating crisis. Currently, approximately 37 hospitals are out of service, with only about 20 operating partially under dire conditions.
Dr. Abu Salmiya warned of the overwhelming pressure on the few remaining hospitals, which are operating with severely limited resources amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The shortage of hospital beds, the lack of care for over 50,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the overall depletion of medical supplies highlight the catastrophic situation.
He emphasized that these challenges are part of a broader Israeli strategy to dismantle Gaza's healthcare capabilities, subjugate Palestinian civilians, and intensify their suffering. The continued targeting of medical, humanitarian, and charitable institutions by Israeli forces further exacerbates the crisis, forcing many to cease operations due to aggression, border closures, and blocked aid.
The healthcare sector in Gaza remains in dire straits, with a continued ban on the entry of medicines and supplies, ongoing targeting of medical personnel, and systematic destruction of major hospitals amid escalating aggression against the besieged Gaza Strip.