During the Israel–Hamas war, the healthcare system of Gaza was destroyed by Israeli attacks on hospitals and health facilities, killing of healthcare workers, and blockade of medical supplies from entering Gaza.[1] The resulting collapse of the healthcare system was part of a broader humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by the war.[2]
The hospitals faced a lack of fuel due to the Israeli siege and relied on backup generators for the first two weeks of the war.[3] By 23 October 2023, Gaza hospitals began shutting down as they ran out of fuel, starting with the Indonesia Hospital.[4] When hospitals lost power completely, multiple premature babies in NICUs died.[5][6] By the end of May 2024, both the World Health Organization and International Rescue Committee reported only one-third of Gaza's hospitals remained at least partially operational.[7][8]
Numerous medical staffers were killed, and ambulances, health institutions, medical headquarters, and multiple hospitals were destroyed.[9] The Medecins Sans Frontieres said scores of ambulances and medical facilities were damaged or destroyed.[10][11] By late-October, the Gaza Health Ministry stated the healthcare system had "totally collapsed",[12] while on January 13 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals reportedly remained partially functional.[13] By May 2024, the World Health Organization documented 450 Israeli attacks on Gaza's healthcare system.[14]
- ^ "'Patients in dire need for blood transfusion' in Gaza". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ Said, Summer. "Red Cross Says Gaza Health System Has Collapsed". WSJ. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ Browne, Grace (24 October 2023). "'The whole health system is collapsing around us.' Doctors say Gaza is on the brink". Wired. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "Gaza hospital generators to run out of fuel in 48 hours: Health Ministry". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 24 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "3 premature babies die at Al-Shifa Hospital: Doctor". ABC News. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ Magdy, Samy; Shurafa, Wafaa; Kullab, Samya. "Dwindling fuel supplies for Gaza's hospital generators put premature babies in incubators at risk". ABC News. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "The collapse of Gaza's health system". International Rescue Committee. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Only one-third of Gaza's hospitals remain even partially functional: WHO". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^
- Romo, Vanessa. "Doctors are among the many dead in Gaza. These are their stories". NPR. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- Debre, Isabel (11 November 2023). "Hospitals have special protection under the rules of war. Why are they in the crosshairs in Gaza?". Associated Press. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- Sabry, Muhammed. "Gaza hospitals in 'total collapse,' says Health Ministry". AA. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- Picheta, Rob (10 November 2023). "Gaza hospital 'surrounded by tanks' as other healthcare facilities say they've been damaged by Israeli strikes". CNN. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- Baker, Graeme (13 November 2023). "Israel Gaza: Hospitals caught on front line of war". BBC. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- Kekatos, Mary. "Hospitals in Gaza say they are under attack and running out of fuel for ICU patients". ABC News. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- Basu, Bhristi. "Dwindling supplies, damaged hospitals in Gaza prompt growing calls for aid, ceasefire". CBC. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Gaza war inflicts catastrophic damage on infrastructure and economy". Reuters. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
- ^ "Gaza medics say Israel targeting ambulances, health facilities". Al Jazeera. 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Healthcare system in Gaza has 'totally collapsed'". The Peninsula Qatar. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
STCwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Timeline of major Israeli attacks on Gaza's hospitals". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 31 May 2024.