As Israel's closure of all crossings into Gaza continues, the Palestinian Ministry of Health has issued a dire warning: 200,000 chronically ill patients are now at risk of death. The prolonged blockade has choked Gaza’s already fragile healthcare system, stripping hospitals of vital medicines, medical equipment, and fuel.

Medical professionals are sounding the alarm. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, described the health crisis as “catastrophic,” accusing Israeli forces of deliberately dismantling the sector. “Children are dying every day—not just from bombs, but from being denied access to lifesaving treatment,” he said.

Dr. Marwan Al-Hams, director of Gaza’s field hospitals, confirmed that the Strip has witnessed a total medical collapse. For more than 50 days, no humanitarian medical aid has entered Gaza. Emergency rooms are overwhelmed, intensive care units are beyond capacity, and hospitals can no longer admit the injured due to non-stop airstrikes and bombardment.

With no end in sight, the Ministry of Health is urging the international community to act now. It is calling for the immediate opening of Gaza’s crossings to allow medical aid in and to evacuate patients requiring treatment abroad. The Ministry also demands that the international community uphold international humanitarian law by protecting hospitals, patients, and health workers from further Israeli attacks.

As the health system crumbles, the question remains: how many more must die before the world intervenes?