Ethan Rhodes
The number of functioning hospitals in Gaza has been a cause for concern, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting that Israeli forces have conducted a systematic dismantling of the health system. As of September 2024, only 17 out of 36 hospitals were partially functional, and the situation has continued to deteriorate. In January 2025, the UN Security Council met to discuss the collapse of health services in Gaza, with the WHO verifying 654 attacks on healthcare facilities since October 2023. The conflict has resulted in the destruction of vital infrastructure, including hospitals, water, and sanitation systems, exacerbating the health crisis and making medical services increasingly inaccessible. Field hospitals have been set up to provide support, but they cannot replace the destroyed health system. The protection of hospitals and medical staff during times of warfare is paramount, and the international community has called for independent investigations and increased protection for health services in Gaza.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of hospitals in the Gaza Strip | 36 |
| Number of functioning hospitals | 17-19 |
| Number of hospitals providing a variety of health services | 12 |
| Number of hospitals providing only basic emergency care | 7 |
| Number of hospitals with severe supply shortages | 19 |
| Number of hospitals in evacuation zones | 1 |
| Number of hospitals within 1000 meters of evacuation zones | 6 |
| Number of hospitals in North Gaza | 1 |
| Number of hospitals in Southern Gaza | 3 |
| Number of hospitals with damaged or destroyed infrastructure | 34 |
| Number of hospital beds available | 2000 |
| Number of people per hospital bed | 1000 |
| Number of attacks on healthcare facilities | 500-697 |
| Number of fatalities due to attacks on healthcare facilities | 886 |
| Number of injuries due to attacks on healthcare facilities | 1349 |
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What You'll Learn
Only 19 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remain operational
The health system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, with only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals still operational. This crisis is the result of intensified military operations by Israel, which have included attacks on healthcare facilities and professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare in Gaza since October 2023, with 28 attacks recorded in the past week.
The hospitals that remain operational are struggling under severe supply shortages, a lack of healthcare workers, persistent insecurity, and an influx of casualties. The situation is so dire that nurses are fainting from hunger and dehydration, and doctors are running out of formula for newborn babies. The hospitals are also facing evacuation orders, which force patients and staff into dangerous situations and disrupt access to essential care.
The ongoing conflict has also resulted in the displacement of 1.9 million Palestinians, or 90% of the Gazan population. This mass displacement has overwhelmed hospitals, particularly in southern Gaza, where the Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, and Al-Aqsa hospitals are struggling to cope with the surge of injured people. The situation is further exacerbated by the closure of the Rafah border crossing, which was the main crossing point for supplies and people.
The destruction of hospitals and the targeting of healthcare workers have been described as a "human rights catastrophe" by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. Despite these challenges, Gaza's health system persists, with WHO and partners working tirelessly to keep services running. However, the situation remains critical, and the international community is urged to provide increased humanitarian aid and expedite evacuations to support Gaza's struggling healthcare system.
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Hospitals are overwhelmed by injured people
Gaza's healthcare system is in a dire state, with hospitals overwhelmed by injured people and struggling to cope with limited resources. As of May 2025, only 19 of the 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip are operational, and these remaining hospitals are grappling with severe supply shortages, staff shortages, and a constant influx of casualties. The situation is so critical that even basic care is challenging to provide.
The crisis in Gaza's healthcare system has been exacerbated by Israel's intensified military operations and the subsequent displacement of a substantial portion of the population. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the suspension of medical services in four major hospitals: Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital. These hospitals were forced to halt operations due to their proximity to areas of conflict, evacuation zones, and direct attacks.
The impact of these closures is profound, as vital services such as neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment are no longer accessible to the people of Gaza. The already limited healthcare infrastructure is further strained by the displacement of nearly 2 million Palestinians, with southern Gaza's Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, and Al-Aqsa hospitals struggling to manage the surge of injured people.
The situation is dire, with hospitals becoming battlegrounds and healthcare professionals risking their lives to provide care. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has described the destruction of hospitals as a "human rights catastrophe." The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The continuous targeting of healthcare facilities and workers has disrupted lives, denied access to essential care, and caused immense suffering.
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94% of hospitals are damaged or destroyed
Gaza's healthcare system has been devastated by the 23-month conflict with Israel. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that at least 94% of hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed, with only 19 of the 36 hospitals remaining operational. The remaining hospitals are struggling with severe supply shortages, a lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties. The situation is so dire that healthcare workers are going hungry, and the hospitals are being overwhelmed with injured and malnourished civilians.
The conflict has resulted in the displacement of 1.9 million Palestinians, or 90% of the Gazan population. The blockade imposed by Israeli authorities since 2007 has created significant challenges for the healthcare system by restricting the entry of medical supplies. The situation has been further exacerbated by evacuation orders forcing patients and staff into dangerous situations. Successive evacuation orders have pushed large numbers of people into tiny areas, such as Al-Mawasi, where basic services like water are scarce.
The targeting of hospitals and medical facilities has had a devastating impact on the healthcare system in Gaza. WHO has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023, resulting in fatalities and injuries. Hospitals such as Kamal Adwan Hospital, North Gaza's main healthcare facility, have been severely damaged, forcing the transfer of critical patients to other facilities. Al-Awda Hospital, the last operational hospital in North Gaza, is struggling to provide basic care and faces imminent risk of closure due to ongoing insecurity and restricted access.
The destruction of hospitals and the disruption of medical services have been described as a "human rights catastrophe" by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The protection of hospitals during warfare has been stressed as paramount, but the continued attacks and obstruction of medical care have left the healthcare system in Gaza on the brink of collapse. The situation is further exacerbated by the shortage of food, water, fuel, and shelter, impacting both civilians and healthcare workers.
The impact of the conflict on Gaza's healthcare system is profound, with 94% of hospitals damaged or destroyed. The remaining hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of patients and lack the necessary resources to provide adequate care. The situation has led to a humanitarian crisis, with civilians struggling to access basic medical services and facing life-threatening situations.
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Hospitals face severe supply shortages
Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals facing severe supply shortages and struggling to cope with a surge in casualties. As of May 2025, only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These hospitals are overwhelmed and struggling under severe shortages of supplies, a lack of healthcare workers, persistent insecurity, and an influx of patients, all while staff work in challenging conditions.
The ongoing conflict and military operations in the region have resulted in the suspension of medical services in several hospitals due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones. The WHO has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza since October 2023, with 28 attacks occurring in the past week. This has led to the displacement of medical staff and patients, further straining the already limited resources.
The situation is dire, with hospitals in Gaza facing critical shortages of medical supplies and equipment. Al-Aqsa Hospital, for example, has only five doctors left and is treating patients in chaotic and overcrowded conditions, including children on the floor. The hospital is in desperate need of health workers, medical supplies, and beds. The lack of resources has led to infections from poorly treated wounds and a high risk of infectious diseases due to overcrowding and poor hygiene in displacement camps.
The blockade imposed by Israeli authorities since 2007 has also contributed to the shortages by hindering the entry of medical supplies and other aid. The closure of the Rafah border crossing, the main entry point for supplies and people, has further exacerbated the situation, with only a fraction of medical evacuations being approved. The continuous cycle of hospitals being rehabilitated and resupplied, only to be attacked or exposed to hostilities again, is undermining efforts to sustain Gaza's healthcare system.
The destruction of hospitals and the targeting of healthcare workers and patients have been described as a "human rights catastrophe" by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. The protection of hospitals and healthcare workers during times of conflict is paramount, and the international community must ensure that humanitarian law is respected by all parties involved. The ongoing crisis in Gaza highlights the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid and expedited evacuations to support the struggling healthcare system.
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Starvation is sweeping across hospitals
Gaza's health system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals becoming battlegrounds. As of May 2025, only 19 of the Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, struggling with severe supply shortages, a lack of healthcare workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 697 attacks on healthcare in Gaza since October 2023, with 28 attacks recorded in the past week.
The ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and the near-total collapse of essential services have led to starvation sweeping across hospitals in Gaza. The World Food Programme has stated that the hunger crisis in Gaza has reached "new and astonishing levels of desperation," with one in three people going without food for days at a time. Hospitals have treated over 20,000 children for acute malnutrition since April, and at least 16 children under five have died from hunger-related causes since mid-July.
The Friends of the Patient clinic and Al-Rantisi children's hospital are among the facilities overwhelmed by the influx of malnourished patients. The ward at the Patient's Friends Benevolent Society hospital is crowded with skeletal children, with only two functioning pediatric teams left in Gaza City. Doctors are struggling to save these children, often failing despite their best efforts. More than 40 of the 111 recorded starvation deaths in Gaza occurred within a three-day period.
The situation is further exacerbated by the blockade imposed by Israeli authorities, which has created critical shortages of medical supplies and food. The bombardment of health facilities, evacuation orders, and dire shortages of vital supplies have devastated Gaza's once-robust healthcare system. The protection of hospitals during warfare is paramount, yet they continue to be targeted, disrupting lives and denying access to essential care.
The international community must heed the calls for increased humanitarian aid and expedited evacuations. With hospitals overwhelmed and essential supplies lacking, the situation in Gaza demands urgent attention and action to prevent further suffering and loss of life.
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Frequently asked questions
As of May 2025, only 19 of Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain operational.
Hospitals in Gaza are facing dire shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter. Medical staff are struggling to provide care due to a lack of resources and ongoing attacks on healthcare facilities.
Yes, several hospitals have been named in reports, including Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal, Al-Aqsa, Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital. These hospitals have had to suspend services or are struggling to provide basic care.
The people of Gaza are facing severe obstacles in accessing healthcare. There is a shortage of hospital beds, with only 2000 beds available for a population of over 2 million. Pregnant women, in particular, face challenges in reaching medical facilities due to the ongoing violence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international humanitarian organizations have expressed concern and called for increased humanitarian aid and adherence to international humanitarian law. WHO has recorded a significant number of attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, with 654 attacks verified since October 2023.
