SAFA- Israeli occupation forces have destroyed nearly 80% of Gaza’s ambulance and emergency response capacity while continuing to block the entry of spare parts and new ambulances, Fares Afana, Director of Ambulance and Emergency Services at Gaza’s Medical Services Directorate, said, warning that the remaining emergency fleet is at risk of collapse.

Afana said Israeli forces have systematically targeted ambulances and emergency crews, ambulances, civil defense vehicles, hospitals, and healthcare centers since the beginning of the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza, in clear violation of international law and humanitarian conventions.

He added that Israel has disregarded all international agreements and failed to protect civilians, medical workers, and emergency crews, making everyone in Gaza a direct target.

Afana said ambulance personnel began saying farewell to one another before every field mission from the early days of the Israeli genocide because they understood they might not return. Many of their colleagues were later killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties.

Emergency Capacity Reduced to 20%

According to Afana, emergency crews are currently operating at no more than 20% of their former capacity, relying on aging vehicles that can no longer withstand harsh field conditions and widespread infrastructure destruction, particularly in northern Gaza.

He said Israeli forces continue tightening restrictions on ambulance operations by controlling the crossings and blocking essential spare parts, including tires, oils, and batteries needed to operate and maintain emergency vehicles. These restrictions threaten to bring ambulance services to a complete halt.

Afana explained that the restrictions extend beyond ambulances and also affect fire engines, rescue vehicles, civilian transportation, and hospital generators.

He described the measures as part of a policy aimed at keeping humanitarian conditions in Gaza at the lowest possible level while preventing any meaningful improvement.

Technical crews are making extensive efforts to keep the remaining vehicles operational despite severe shortages. However, many ambulances remain out of service for weeks, and sometimes for more than a month, because the necessary spare parts are unavailable.

Afana warned that Gaza’s ambulance and emergency services face serious risks due to the acute shortage of equipment and the absence of alternatives.

He said additional vehicles could stop operating, directly undermining emergency crews’ ability to respond to urgent humanitarian and medical cases.

The Medical Services Directorate has repeatedly appealed to the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other humanitarian and rights organizations to pressure Israel to allow spare parts into Gaza.

It has also called for the entry of new ambulances currently held on the Egyptian side and the replacement of aging vehicles that are damaged beyond repair.

Afana said the directorate also offered to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to fully supervise ambulance maintenance inside Gaza to ensure the vehicles are used solely for humanitarian purposes. However, the proposal has not received a response.

He renewed calls for urgent international intervention to support Gaza’s ambulance and emergency sector and secure the entry of spare parts and new vehicles, stressing that immediate action is essential to ensure the continued delivery of medical and humanitarian services across Gaza.