Gaza’s health system is on the verge of total collapse due to ongoing Israeli military attacks. Since October 2023, hospitals, clinics, ambulances, and medical workers have come under fire. As of May 23, over 90 percent of Gaza’s 531 health service points are no longer fully working. Many are completely shut down, while others function only partly.
In recent weeks, several hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis was hit on May 13 and again on May 19, damaging its burn unit and medical warehouse. The European Hospital, also in Khan Yunis, was struck on May 13 and is now out of service. Kamal Adwan Hospital in North Gaza went offline on May 20 after military drones and forces surrounded it. The Indonesian Hospital stopped working on May 21 after its generators were bombed, forcing patients to evacuate. Al Awda Hospital in Jabalia has been attacked at least 28 times since October and is now surrounded. It has lost its emergency room, water supply, medicine storage, and nearly all of its basic supplies.
Doctors and staff in these hospitals are working under extreme conditions. Many report having no medicine, fuel, or clean water. Ambulances can no longer reach many areas due to constant drone activity and airstrikes. Patients who need urgent care cannot get to hospitals, and those inside are trapped without enough food or water.
The health crisis is worsened by a total blockade that began on March 2. Israel has prevented the entry of aid trucks carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies. As a result, hospitals have run out of vital items like oxygen tanks, dialysis machines, anesthesia, nutritional supplements, and orthopedic tools. Even hospitals that remain standing cannot perform life-saving tasks due to the lack of these materials.
Many of the few clinics that are still open are located in areas under forced evacuation or near military zones. This makes it dangerous or impossible for people to reach them. Over 1,400 health workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, and many others have been injured or detained.
The United Nations and international legal experts have raised alarms about the situation. On May 13, UN officials urged the Security Council to take action to stop what they described as possible acts of genocide. An independent UN commission also said that the destruction of Gaza’s health system could be part of a broader effort to wipe out the population. International law requires all parties in a conflict to protect medical services and allow the flow of humanitarian aid. As the occupying power, Israel holds primary responsibility for protecting the rights and safety of civilians in Gaza.
World leaders are being urged to act quickly. They are being asked to push for a permanent ceasefire, stop sending weapons to the region, and demand that border crossings into Gaza be reopened. They are also being asked to support medical evacuations, protect aid workers, and ensure that food, water, and medical items are allowed into Gaza. Finally, governments are being called on to investigate attacks on health facilities and hold those responsible accountable under international law.
The destruction of Gaza’s health system is not only a medical emergency but also a human rights crisis. Without immediate global action, more lives will be lost, and the suffering will continue to grow. It is no longer enough to speak out. The world must take real steps to stop this disaster and protect the people of Gaza.
