DaysofPal- The director of Medical Relief in southern Gaza, Bassam Zaqout, has warned of an unprecedented collapse in the territory’s healthcare system, stating that it now operates as a hollow structure lacking real capacity. He pointed to widespread diagnostic paralysis and strict restrictions that hinder the delivery of essential medical services.
In press statements, Zaqout said limitations imposed by Israeli authorities on the entry of medical supplies have reduced the health sector to a minimal system reliant on improvised solutions. Basic tools are occasionally allowed in, while critical and specialized equipment remains barred.
He explained that these restrictions have led to a near-total breakdown in diagnostic capabilities. Essential services such as electrocardiograms, hormone testing, and early cancer detection are largely unavailable. The sector also faces a severe drug crisis, with shortages of medications for chronic illnesses, a significant lack of antibiotics, and limited access to cancer treatments.
Medical staff are now forced to treat patients with very limited options due to the absence of integrated care systems. This reality continues to undermine the overall quality of healthcare services.
Zaqout also warned of serious environmental and public health consequences tied to deteriorating living conditions. He cited shortages of clean water, the accumulation of waste, and severe overcrowding in shelters, all of which create conditions for the spread of diseases and outbreaks that would be difficult to contain given the weakened healthcare capacity.
Gaza Health Ministry Undersecretary Maher Shamieh has also warned of worsening health conditions resulting from the destruction of medical facilities and the lack of basic services, highlighting the growing risks to civilian lives.
According to data from the Health Ministry, more than 1,800 healthcare facilities have been destroyed since the beginning of the war, with total losses in the sector estimated at around $1.4 billion.
These warnings come while Israeli military operations and the blockade on Gaza continue, despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025. Daily casualties are still being reported, underscoring the ongoing strain on an already devastated healthcare system.
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