The health sector in Gaza is on the brink of collapse as fuel shortages imposed by the Israeli occupation endanger the lives of thousands, according to Palestinian health officials. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli occupation has escalated its attacks on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, including the destruction of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, the prevention of medicine entry through international organisations, and the blockade of fuel supplies to hospitals in southern Gaza.

Dr Marwan Hams, Director-General of Field Hospitals in Gaza’s Ministry of Health, described the crisis as catastrophic. “Hospitals are completely out of fuel, with the Israeli occupation allowing only minimal quantities that barely sustain operations for a few hours. If this continues, all healthcare facilities will cease functioning in days,” he warned. Several hospitals have already suspended vital services, and critical departments are operating at minimal capacity.

The crisis has already claimed lives, with the first death reported due to the fuel shortage. A patient in Nasser Medical Complex’s kidney dialysis unit died after its generators ran out of fuel. The hospital, a central healthcare provider for southern Gaza, requires 5,500 litres of diesel daily to operate but is now relying on a single small generator to power emergency services such as intensive care and operating theatres.

The Israeli occupation has imposed new restrictions on the entry of fuel, forcing trucks to navigate dangerous and heavily monitored routes. Ismail Al-Thawabteh, head of Gaza’s government media office, accused the occupation of using these measures to deepen the humanitarian crisis. He added that recent fuel shipments were intercepted and stolen by armed groups linked to the occupation, further exacerbating the dire situation.

The deliberate targeting of Gaza’s health system has rendered 34 hospitals, 80 health centres, and 162 medical institutions non-functional since October 2023. With 136 ambulances destroyed and essential medicine supplies restricted, more than a million displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza face life-threatening risks as hospitals struggle to maintain even basic services amidst the Israeli occupation’s ongoing blockade.