Gaza: Health Ministry Warns of Critical Medicine Shortages After Two Years of Israeli Genocide and Continued Aid Restrictions

The Palestinian Health Ministry has warned of “alarming” shortages of medicines in Gaza, amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid entering the enclave after two years of Israeli genocide, making it difficult to doctors in the war-torn territory to provide diagnostic and treatment services.

During the two-year assault on Gaza, which started in October 2023, Israel attacked nearly all hospitals and healthcare facilities, with at least 125 health facilities damaged, including 34 hospitals.

“The number of items completely out of stock on the essential medicines list has reached 321, representing a 52 percent shortage,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.

“The number of items completely out of stock on the medical consumables list has reached 710, representing a 71 percent shortage. The shortage rate for laboratory tests and blood bank supplies has reached 59 percent,” it added.

The most critical drug shortages are in emergency services, particularly life-saving intravenous solutions, intravenous antibiotics, and pain killers, the Ministry said.

The shortage in emergency and intensive care services is potentially depriving 200,000 patients of emergency care, 100,000 patients of surgical services, and 700 patients of intensive care, it noted.

The Ministry cited additional shortages in kidney, oncology, open-heart surgery, and orthopedic supplies, among others.

“Given these alarming figures, and with the continued reduction by the occupation of the number of medical trucks entering Gaza to less than 30 percent of the monthly need, and with the insufficient quantity of supplies available, the Ministry of Health urgently appeals to all relevant parties to fully assume their responsibilities in implementing emergency interventions,” it said.

Amid the shortages of medical supplies, 1,500 children are awaiting the opening of border crossings to travel and receive treatment outside Gaza as Israel also continues to close and restrict crossings into and out of Gaza.

Zaher Al Waheidi, the head of the Information Unit at Gaza’s Health Ministry, said on Sunday that 1,200 patients, including 155 children, have died after being unable to be evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment.

Healthcare in Gaza has been pushed to the brink of collapse following repeated attacks by Israeli forces since October 2023.

Human rights groups and United Nations-backed experts have confirmed that Israel has been systematically destroying Gaza’s healthcare system.

Several medical facilities across Gaza were bombed, burned, and besieged by the Israeli military since the start of the war, including Kamal Adwan Hospital, al-Shifa Hospital, al-Ahli Hospital, and al-Awda Hospital. Dozens of other medical clinics, stations, and vehicles also came under Israeli attack.

The targeting of health facilities, medical personnel and patients is considered a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention.

According to the World Health Programme (WHO), 18 out of 36 hospitals and 43 percent of primary health-care centers in Gaza were partially functioning.

Since the declaration of the ceasefire in Gaza on October 10, Israel has violated the agreement with near-daily attacks, killing hundreds of people.

Israel violated the ceasefire agreement at least 738 times from October 10 to December 12, through the continuation of attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings, the Government Media Office in Gaza reports.

Israel shot at civilians 205 times, raided residential areas beyond the “yellow line” 37 times, bombed and shelled Gaza 358 times, and demolished people’s properties on 138 occasions. It added that Israel had also detained 43 Palestinians from Gaza over the past two months.

Israel has also continued to block vital humanitarian aid and destroy homes and infrastructure across the Strip.