The Gaza Health Ministry warned on Saturday that the few remaining hospitals still operating in the Gaza Strip could soon be out of service. The critical issue is the impending failure of diesel generators that power essential medical equipment and lighting, a result of a lack of necessary spare parts due to Israel’s siege on the territory.
“This means certain death for the sick and injured and the complete end of the health service,” the ministry stated. One of the main generators at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah recently broke down, leaving the hospital with only one functioning generator. This facility has been inundated with victims of recent Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza, which have killed and wounded dozens of civilians.
On Saturday, Al-Aqsa Hospital received a large influx of wounded individuals, including many children. The hospital is also grappling with a severe shortage of medicine and equipment. The ministry emphasized that Gaza’s hospitals have repeatedly been targeted by Israeli strikes throughout the nine-month conflict, with many now no longer operational.
The World Health Organization reported that since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, there have been 464 Israeli attacks on Gaza’s health care system, affecting 101 health facilities. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes but has provided limited evidence to support these claims. The Israeli military has yet to present similar evidence regarding other healthcare centers it has attacked. Hamas and hospital administrators have denied these accusations.
With the blockade severely limiting Gaza’s electricity supply, hospitals have become almost entirely reliant on generators. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the already dire situation created by the longstanding blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt.
Since the war began, Israel has imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, resulting in severe shortages of food, water, and medicines. Items such as sanitation equipment have also been blocked. Israel’s civil administration has not responded to questions regarding the hospital generators, previously stating that the restrictions are intended to prevent items that could be used for military purposes from entering Gaza.
