As Israeli ground operations intensify, health services in Gaza are nearing a breaking point with reports of extensive damage to medical facilities, evacuation orders, and increasing civilian casualties. The WHO and Médecins Sans Frontières reveal the dire conditions facing healthcare providers in the region, stressing the urgent need for humanitarian aid and intervention.
WHO Warns Gaza Health System on Verge of Collapse Amid Israeli Military Operations
WHO Warns Gaza Health System on Verge of Collapse Amid Israeli Military Operations
The ongoing Israeli offensive has severely crippled healthcare in Gaza, resulting in widespread casualties and damaged medical facilities as evacuation orders take their toll, warns the World Health Organization.
The continuous Israeli military operations are driving the health system in Gaza to its limits, as warned by the World Health Organization (WHO). Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that key hospitals, including the Indonesian, Kamal Adwan, and al-Awda facilities, are in evacuation zones and severely affected by hostilities.
Kamal Adwan is currently out of service due to nearby military actions, while the Indonesian hospital is inaccessible due to Israeli forces in the vicinity. Al-Awda remains operational, but Dr. Mohammed Salha, its director, described the facility as “totally under siege,” with sounds of nearby gunfire and a drone reportedly targeting the area.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that their operations aim to neutralize terror threats and assert they are not intentionally besieging the hospital. However, Dr. Tedros emphasized that even unscathed hospitals face significant obstacles, including restricted access for patients and healthcare staff, which severely hampers medical operations.
Reports from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) indicate that within the past week, at least 20 medical facilities have been damaged or rendered inoperative. MSF condemned Israeli authorities for the “deliberate asphyxiation of Gaza’s healthcare system.” Following the termination of a prior ceasefire, Israel initiated military actions targeting Hamas, citing hostages’ release as a goal.
The IDF expanded its ground offensive amid bombarding, resulting in over 600 deaths and thousands of injuries in just one week. Civilians in Gaza face extreme conditions, with the UN noting a large number of displaced individuals. While Israel allowed minimal food supplies into Gaza, aid organizations argue it is insufficient in alleviating the humanitarian crisis.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, recounted firsthand observations of how deeply entrenched hostilities impede essential medical services. Al-Awda hospital struggles with overwhelming injury cases and dwindling resources. The Indonesian hospital has seen most patients leave due to escalations in violence, with only a handful remaining, all in urgent need of basic necessities.
The IDF has maintained that it sticks to international humanitarian laws but claims that attacks on hospitals are justified if they are being misused for military purposes, a charge Hamas denies. As Gaza's medical emergency worsens, voices from within the hospitals warn that the situation could lead to mass casualties if the healthcare facilities are forced to evacuate.
International agencies confirm that essential medical equipment has been destroyed by recent military actions, undermining an already fragile health system. The need for immediate humanitarian assistance is dire, with health professionals warning of catastrophic outcomes if interventions do not take place soon.
As the conflict persists, the voices of doctors and healthcare workers resonate calling for a cessation of hostilities, asserting that the survival and well-being of civilians hang in the balance amid ongoing warfare.
