A senior Palestinian health official has issued a stark warning over what he described as a rapidly deepening catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, as the collapse of the healthcare system continues amid sustained military operations. He stressed that the destruction of medical infrastructure and the severe shortage of essential supplies have pushed the entire health sector to the brink, placing the lives of thousands at immediate risk.

Speaking during a public health event marking World Health Day, he highlighted that hospitals and clinics have been rendered inoperative at an unprecedented scale, with dozens of major hospitals and health centres no longer functioning. According to the figures he cited, widespread damage has effectively dismantled large parts of the medical network, while remaining facilities are operating far beyond capacity under extreme conditions.

He further drew attention to the broader social collapse accompanying the genocidal war, pointing to mass displacement, deepening poverty, insecurity, and the near-total reliance of the population on humanitarian aid. These conditions, combined with escalating psychological distress, are placing immense strain on communities already struggling to survive, while mental health needs continue to grow sharply with little capacity for response.

The official also underscored that medical staff are working under severe constraints, unable to carry out basic preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services due to shortages and infrastructural breakdown. He called for urgent international intervention to restore access to medical supplies and to ensure that remaining health facilities can function, warning that continued disruption would result in further preventable loss of life among patients and the wounded.