Hospitals in Gaza are struggling with severe shortages of essential medicines and equipment, leading to life-threatening delays for patients needing evacuation and specialized treatment. Aid workers report that doctors are rationing vital supplies, loaning medications to each other, and turning away patients from critical appointments like chemotherapy and dialysis.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the extensive list of patients awaiting evacuation is a clear indication that individuals in Gaza lack access to necessary medical care. Pat Griffiths, a spokesperson for the ICRC in Jerusalem, stated that Israel, as the occupying power under international humanitarian law, has an obligation to facilitate access to these services.
The shortages range from basic consumables like gauze and painkillers to advanced medical equipment. Griffiths asserted that preventable deaths are occurring due to the restrictions on healthcare supplies entering the territory.
Cogat, an Israeli government agency, stated that since a ceasefire agreement, 17,000 tons of medicines and medical aid, including cancer medications, insulin, dialysis machines, and X-ray equipment, have entered Gaza. Cogat also claims that Israel has approved every request for medicines submitted by international aid organizations.
However, humanitarian officials, speaking anonymously, have countered these claims. They suggest that such examples are anecdotal and do not reflect the reality of key medicine and equipment shortages, arguing that aid supplies remain restricted. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that the measure of aid is not in the quantity of shipments but in the needs of patients being met. A WHO official noted that a lack of unrestricted medical supply and sufficient buffer stock levels hinders the ability to run hospitals effectively.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry estimates that approximately 300 Palestinians referred for treatment abroad have died since the ceasefire began. The dire situation is compounded by the damaged state of Gaza's hospitals, many of which have suffered from gunfire and Israeli strikes, leaving the healthcare system unrepaired and under immense strain.