In Gaza’s shattered hospitals and bombed clinics, expired medicines have become a desperate necessity as the ongoing Israeli siege and relentless warfare devastate the health system. For many Palestinians like Mariam Ajjour and her injured daughter Suwar, access to vital medication means relying on drugs past their expiry dates, a risky but often the only choice left.

With nearly half of essential medicines unavailable, Gaza’s Ministry of Health has resorted to extending the shelf life of expired drugs after rigorous testing, a temporary solution amid crippling shortages. Yet pharmacists and doctors warn that some medications, especially antibiotics and hormones, may become harmful, posing serious health risks.

Despite these dangers, the blockade restricts all new medical supplies, forcing thousands to turn to expired or unregulated drugs from informal markets, often unsafe and poorly stored. As Gaza’s health crisis worsens, the use of expired medicines symbolizes the tragic reality of a population under siege, struggling to survive against all odds.