Gaza Health Ministry Warns of 'Unprecedented Catastrophe'
DaysofPal — The Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued a grave warning about the imminent collapse of the territory's health care system, as Israel continues to block the entry of urgent medical supplies amid ongoing bombardment. The ministry described the current health and humanitarian situation as 'unprecedented' and 'catastrophic.'
In a statement, the ministry said that the remaining hospitals operating in Gaza are on the brink of shutting down entirely, unable to withstand mounting pressure amid acute shortages and overcrowding.
According to the ministry, hospitals are overwhelmed far beyond capacity, especially in inpatient wards and intensive care units. Emergency departments, surgery rooms, and ICUs are struggling to cope with the rising number of critical injuries.
Only 45 of Gaza's 312 operating rooms are functional, and even those are working with limited capabilities, delaying urgent and complex surgical procedures.
The report revealed a devastating collapse in drug stocks and medical supplies. Nearly half of all essential medications (47%) are entirely depleted, while 65% of medical consumables are also unavailable—crippling care for cancer and heart patients in particular.
The oxygen supply has also nearly run dry. Just 9 of Gaza's 34 oxygen stations remain partially operational. In addition, 49 power generators are running on severely limited fuel reserves, insufficient to meet the needs of critical hospital departments.
Diagnostic and imaging equipment is in short supply, making it nearly impossible for physicians to perform lifesaving interventions.
The patient death toll continues to climb. The ministry confirmed that 338 cancer patients have died while waiting for permits to leave Gaza for treatment
A total of 11,000 cancer patients have been left without access to medication due to the destruction of treatment centers, lack of drugs, and travel restrictions. At least 513 patients have died as a direct result of being denied medical evacuation.
Patients with kidney failure are also in grave danger. The ministry reported that 41% of these patients have died due to the collapse in treatment services.
In northern Gaza, hospitals have been wiped out completely through siege and destruction, cutting off thousands of wounded and sick Palestinians from care. This has placed unbearable strain on the few exhausted facilities still functioning in Gaza City.
Blood donation campaigns can no longer meet the urgent demand, as malnutrition and anemia worsen across the population. Blood banks are running dangerously low on units and components.
The situation for children is especially dire. The ministry voiced alarm over a sharp rise in acute malnutrition among children, particularly infants, due to the absence of therapeutic milk.
Health conditions in displacement shelters are 'the worst imaginable,' with widespread hunger, lack of clean water, and the rapid spread of infectious diseases.
Since the start of the year, Gaza's health authorities have documented 59,000 cases of bloody diarrhea, 254,000 respiratory infections, and 337 meningitis cases—259 of them viral.
Chronic patients are left without medications or medical follow-up, placing them at severe risk of deterioration. Meanwhile, high temperatures, water shortages, and poor sanitation are accelerating the spread of disease.
Vaccination rates have dropped to 80% due to Israel's continued blockade of vaccine shipments, including the polio vaccine.
The Health Ministry concluded its statement with a stark warning: the continued Israeli offensive and the paralysis of international humanitarian efforts could lead to the total collapse of Gaza's health sector. It called on all relevant actors to intervene immediately to prevent an impending medical and humanitarian disaster.
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