Tessa Quinn
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the destruction of hospitals and medical infrastructure, leaving thousands without access to healthcare. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest health facility in Gaza, was brought to a standstill in November 2023 following a massive bombardment by Israeli forces. Despite the challenges, Al-Shifa Hospital is still standing but barely functioning. The hospital's primary oxygen plant has been destroyed, and it now serves as a camp for displaced people. The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners have been working to provide fuel and support to Al-Shifa and other remaining hospitals in Gaza, but the situation remains dire. Other hospitals in Gaza, such as Al-Amal Hospital and Al-Ahli Hospital, have also faced significant challenges, with reports of military incursions, staff detentions, and access issues. The conflict has resulted in the loss of life, displacement, and trauma for both civilians and healthcare workers, with limited access to medical care and essential supplies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital | Al-Shifa Hospital |
| Location | Northern Gaza |
| Status | Still standing but non-functional |
| Current use | Camp for displaced people |
| Number of people sheltered | 50,000 Palestinians |
| Current issues | Lack of fuel, staff, supplies, oxygen, electricity, medical equipment, and food |
| Number of functional hospitals in Northern Gaza | None |
| Number of functional hospitals in Gaza | 9 out of 36 |
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What You'll Learn
Al-Shifa Hospital is still standing but is barely functioning
Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza is still standing but is barely functioning. Once the largest and most important referral hospital in Gaza, Al-Shifa now houses about 50,000 displaced Palestinians seeking safety. The hospital has been severely damaged by Israeli bombardment, with ripped-open ceilings and a destroyed oxygen plant. The medical teams have managed to get the emergency room up and running, but it is mostly occupied by patients who have been admitted. The hospital lacks fuel for generators, making it impossible to properly treat people in critical need of medical care. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working to resume medical activities at Al-Shifa, but the conflict and access restrictions make this challenging.
The situation at Al-Shifa Hospital is emblematic of the broader healthcare crisis in Gaza. Israeli attacks have rendered numerous hospitals and clinics inoperable, and healthcare workers face immense challenges in accessing and delivering care. As of October 7, 2023, Israel had attacked 162 healthcare facilities in Gaza, and the ongoing conflict has disrupted critical services. Hospitals in Gaza are facing shortages of fuel, staff, medical supplies, and food, with the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring that there are no functional hospitals left in northern Gaza.
The closure of Al-Amal Hospital in March 2024 further exacerbated the healthcare crisis in Gaza. Sustained hostilities placed patients, medical staff, and civilians at grave danger, and the forced evacuation of the hospital left countless lives at risk. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), a major provider of healthcare services in the Gaza Strip, has also faced disruptions, with the closure of its Al-Quds and Al-Amal hospitals rendering its critical healthcare services non-functional.
The impact of the healthcare crisis in Gaza is profound, with reports of patients waiting for surgeries for weeks and facing the risk of postoperative infections due to drug shortages. The lack of access to medical oxygen production and CT scanning capabilities in northern Gaza further compromises effective diagnosis and treatment. Diplomatic efforts are underway to secure a pause in the war, but the ongoing conflict continues to inflict unimaginable suffering on the people of Gaza.
Amidst the devastation, acts of resilience and dedication emerge. Dr. Ahmed Radi, a volunteer doctor at Al-Ahli Hospital, described the immense loss and grief experienced by the people of Gaza. Despite the challenges, healthcare workers like Dr. Radi and the PRCS volunteers and paramedics continue to provide care and hope to those in need. Their courage and unwavering commitment to their selfless response are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of immense adversity.
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Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital continues to treat patients
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza has been subjected to numerous airstrikes and gunfire from quadcopter drones. The hospital is located in central Gaza and is on the brink of collapse. Despite housing thousands of dead bodies and sheltering thousands of refugees, the medical staff at Al-Aqsa are tirelessly working to find ways to treat the injured.
The hospital's maternity department now doubles as a cancer ward, and infants cry for milk, which the hospital does not have, leading to babies developing diseases as soon as they are born. The hospital is also facing a shortage of blood donations. The medical staff are exhausted and overworked, with some doctors not having left the hospital in months. They describe the situation as heartbreaking and affirm the need for medical supplies to enter Gaza as soon as possible.
In January 2024, the hospital ran out of fuel to power its generators, leading to a blackout that threatened patients' lives. The hospital again ran out of fuel in May and June, with the situation described as "something above emergency". In August 2024, an Israeli bombing of tents in the hospital courtyard killed at least four Palestinians and injured 18 others. In late August, patients fled the hospital following an evacuation order from the Israeli military.
Despite the immense challenges, the doctors at Al-Aqsa refuse to give up and abandon their patients. They continue to work tirelessly to treat and care for the sick and wounded.
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Al-Ahli Hospital resembles a hospice providing limited care
The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza is still standing but resembles a hospice providing limited care. On 17 October 2023, a missile struck the hospital's courtyard, killing 471 people and wounding 342 others. Since then, Israeli air strikes have targeted Gaza's medical infrastructure, making life difficult for doctors and nurses.
The hospital is described as a "shell" by Richard Peeperkorn of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a small hospital that is overwhelmed with patients. The rooms and corridors are filled with patients, making it challenging to keep on top of everyone. The hospital is functioning with only junior doctors and nurses, who provide basic first aid, pain management, and wound care with limited resources. There is a lack of fuel, power, medical supplies, and health workers, including surgeons and other specialists, which has resulted in the hospital no longer being able to perform surgeries.
The situation in Gaza's hospitals is dire, with only a few remaining functional hospitals in the region. Hospitals face challenges with access for patients and supplies, and health workers manage with little rest and scarce supplies. The WHO and partners have been conducting high-risk missions to resupply fuel to hospitals, but they face delays and difficulties in reaching the hospitals due to damaged roads and checkpoints.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in the destruction of health services in the region, with hospitals facing closures, damage, and a lack of essential resources. The situation has led to limited access to healthcare and an increased risk to the lives of patients and medical staff. The international community has been advocating for a humanitarian ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid to address the crisis.
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Al-Amal Hospital is no longer functioning
As of 26 March 2024, Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza is no longer functioning. Sustained hostilities in and around the hospital have placed the lives of critical patients, injured civilians, medical staff, and Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) teams in grave danger. The hospital, which is located in Khan Younis, has been transformed into a battleground. All PRCS staff and hundreds of critically injured and displaced people seeking refuge and treatment within its complex were forced to evacuate.
The closure of Al-Amal Hospital has rendered the critical healthcare services of the PRCS non-functional. The PRCS is a major provider of healthcare services in the Gaza Strip. The forced closures of both its operational hospitals, Al-Quds and now Al-Amal, have left the PRCS unable to provide critical healthcare services.
Since the beginning of the conflict, the IFRC has lost 18 members of its network: 15 from PRCS and three from Magen David Adom. The IFRC stands in solidarity with the PRCS, advocating for the protection of all medical facilities and personnel. They call on all parties to adhere to their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, ensuring the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and facilities.
The situation for hospitals in Khan Younis is "catastrophic and indescribable," according to WHO staff. In southern Gaza, which used to have 12 hospitals, only 7 remain partially functional. A further two hospitals, Al-Kheir Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex, are only minimally functional and now inaccessible. WHO is extremely concerned about reports of military incursions and the detention of health workers at Al-Kheir Hospital. Communication with this hospital is no longer possible.
The Gaza Strip's health system is collapsing, with Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital at risk of becoming non-functional. These hospitals are the last two functioning public hospitals in Khan Younis, where most of the population is living. Without them, people will lose access to critical health services. Israeli authorities have informed the Ministry of Health that access routes leading to both hospitals will be obstructed, making safe access for new patients and staff difficult, if not impossible.
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Israeli forces have attacked 162 healthcare facilities in Gaza
As of 7 October 2023, Israeli forces have attacked 162 healthcare facilities in Gaza, rendering 114 hospitals and clinics inoperable. The Washington Post reported in May 2024 that only 4 of the 36 hospitals in Gaza have not been damaged by munitions, raided by Israeli forces, or ceased operations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed deep concern over the situation, with WHO staff describing the situation for hospitals in Khan Yunis as "catastrophic and indescribable." In southern Gaza, only 7 out of 12 hospitals remain partially functional, while 2 hospitals are now inaccessible. Intensified military presence and hostilities in southern Gaza are placing patients and health workers at risk and compromising access to healthcare.
In one instance, Israeli forces disguised as medical staff and civilian Muslim women shot and killed three Palestinians inside a hospital in the West Bank city of Jenin. The UN described the incident as an extrajudicial execution, while Israel claimed they belonged to a "Hamas terrorist cell."
The ongoing conflict has resulted in a dire situation for hospitals in Gaza, with limited access to fuel, medical supplies, and essential resources such as food and water. Hospitals are struggling to care for the high number of patients, many of whom are displaced and suffering from trauma, war injuries, and poor living conditions. The conflict has also disrupted the delivery of critical aid, with roads leading to hospitals severely damaged and delays at checkpoints.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Al-Shifa Hospital is still standing but it is badly damaged and barely functional. It is now a camp for displaced people.
Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest health facility in Gaza, has been brought to a standstill. It houses about 50,000 Palestinians seeking safety, but the lack of fuel for generators makes it difficult to treat people in need of medical care.
As of December 2023, there were no functional hospitals left in northern Gaza. In southern Gaza, only 7 out of 12 hospitals remain partially functional. Al-Kheir Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex are inaccessible, and Al-Amal Hospital has ceased functioning due to sustained hostilities.
