Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, has warned that any Israeli plans to invade and occupy Gaza City would result in catastrophic casualties, overwhelming hospitals already stretched beyond capacity. He described the healthcare system as teetering on the brink, incapable of coping with the surge of wounded civilians from ongoing bombardments.

Israeli forces continue large-scale attacks on Al-Zeitoun and Al-Sabra neighbourhoods, with many casualties reported and others trapped under rubble, unable to be rescued. Abu Salmiya confirmed that hospitals are struggling to treat the influx: Al-Shifa Medical Complex has exceeded 300% capacity, while Al-Quds Hospital and field hospitals report hundreds of wounded daily, with insufficient beds, staff, and medical supplies.

The shortage of essential medicines, medical personnel, and basic supplies compounds the crisis, leaving hospitals unable to provide even minimal care. Cases of malnutrition and severe injuries are rising, adding further pressure to a healthcare system already under immense strain. Abu Salmiya stressed that the continued bombardment is claiming lives that could be saved if hospitals had the capacity and resources to treat the wounded.

He warned that patients in intensive care, neonatal units, and kidney dialysis wards are at extreme risk, with no alternative facilities available to transfer them. Should Israel launch a full-scale ground invasion, thousands of civilians would be left untreated, with hospitals unable to serve the needs of even the most critical cases.

For more than 23 months, Gaza has endured relentless airstrikes, bombardments, and civilian targeting under a tight blockade. The health system has been systematically undermined, with vital medicines, medical equipment, generators, and baby formula prevented from entering. The situation remains dire, with the looming threat of a humanitarian catastrophe affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.