Dr Nasr Al-Tatar, medical director of the Arab Baptist Hospital in Gaza, has warned that the facility is struggling under an unbearable medical burden due to severe shortages of equipment, medicines, and essential supplies. As one of the few operational hospitals in Gaza City, specialising in internal medicine and intensive care, it faces overwhelming pressure following the destruction of much of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, including Al-Shifa Medical Complex.

Al-Tatar stressed that Baptist Hospital is the city’s only provider of internal medicine, leaving stroke victims, heart attack patients, and those with chronic conditions no alternative for treatment. While surgical cases have slightly declined, the demand for specialised internal care has surged. The hospital is critically short of surgical tools, medical devices, and disposable supplies, putting lives at risk. It's only CT scan machine is under immense strain, and with just three ICU beds, capacity is dangerously inadequate.

The war has also left the hospital with a severe shortage of medical staff, as many have been killed, arrested, or injured. To cope, medical students and trainees have been called to assist. “Our healthcare workers deserve the highest recognition,” Al-Tatar said, expressing hope that displaced professionals would return.

Despite its small size, Baptist Hospital has become a vital lifeline, treating thousands of war victims. Staff have converted parts of the church into wards, set up emergency tents, and worked relentlessly under extreme conditions. “What we are doing here is extraordinary on a global scale,” Al-Tatar stated.

With Gaza’s healthcare system on the verge of collapse, Baptist Hospital remains one of the last hopes for those in desperate need. However, without immediate international intervention, its ability to function is gravely at risk.