The terrorist Israeli forces, known for their inhumane assaults, deliberately bomb medical centers, strike ambulances, and kill health workers to prevent the wounded in Gaza from receiving treatment. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has targeted 164 health institutions in the Gaza Strip, rendering 81 health centers and 38 hospitals non-operational. Among the health facilities directly targeted are Gaza’s largest hospitals including the Al-Shifa Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Al-Quds Hospital, and Al-Ahli Arab (Baptist) Hospital. Al-Ahli Hospital in particular was attacked five times during the genocide. In the October 2023 bombing, hundreds of civilians—including children—were killed in the hospital courtyard.
“Healthcare System on the Brink of Total Collapse”
Satellite images and field reports reveal that 94% of Gaza’s healthcare facilities have been damaged or destroyed. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) states that this level of destruction has brought Gaza’s healthcare system to the brink of total collapse. The remaining facilities are unable to function properly due to a lack of electricity, water, and security.
Over 1,000 Healthcare Workers Killed
Israel repeatedly targeted ambulances and medical teams. Ambulances belonging to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and other organizations have been struck multiple times while trying to evacuate the wounded. From October 7, 2023 to the end of 2024, 144 ambulances were damaged or rendered unusable. Local Palestinian authorities report that when all healthcare sector workers are accounted for, over 1,000 healthcare workers have been killed.
Torture and Ill Treatment of Medics
Medical professionals are not only being killed; they are also captured and subjected to ill-treatment. As of April 2025, the WHO confirmed that 297 healthcare workers have been detained by the Israeli military, with no detailed information about their conditions or whereabouts. Among the detainees are some of Gaza’s most experienced surgeons and specialists. Some Palestinian doctors who were released from detention have documented instances of torture and mistreatment in Israeli custody.
Thousands of Patients in Urgent Need of Treatment Abroad
The WHO estimates that right now between 10,000 and 12,500 patients in Gaza require urgent treatment abroad. However, due to the closure of border crossings, these patients—who include cancer patients, organ transplant candidates, critically injured civilians, burn victims, and those needing cardiovascular surgery—are at grave risk of preventable death.
Over 400,000 People Displaced in Less Than a Month
As of April 2025, 69% of Gaza’s territory is either under an evacuation order or declared a “no-go zone.” This has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes and left them without access to healthcare. According to United Nations data, from the end of March to mid-April 2025 alone, more than 400,000 people have been displaced. These individuals, constantly on the move and living in makeshift tents or open areas, have little to no access to healthcare services.
Over 120,000 Gazans Injured in Attacks
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have martyred more than 53,000 people in Gaza. Thousands more remain buried under the rubble. Over 120,000 individuals have been injured, many of them critically, requiring emergency surgery and long-term rehabilitation. According to OCHA, at least 25% of the injured have sustained life-altering injuries, such as amputations, spinal cord damage, and severe burns, leading to permanent disabilities. Many have died due to infections caused by inadequate treatment, or now live with permanent disabilities due to improper care.
Chronic Patients Unable to Receive Treatment
In addition to the injured, thousands of people with chronic illnesses in Gaza are facing severe hardships due to the Israeli assault and displacement. Patients with kidney failure, cancer, and diabetes are unable to access regular treatment. Around 1,000 kidney patients require dialysis several times a week, but due to fuel and electricity shortages, nearly all dialysis centers are non-operational, resulting in unnecessary deaths. Cancer treatment has also become impossible due to the lack of chemotherapy drugs and electricity for radiation equipment. The blockade has prevented the supply of essential medications and the referral of patients abroad. The Gaza Ministry of Health states that over 1,000 cancer patients have had their treatment interrupted.
50,000 Pregnant Women Have No Access to Healthcare
Alongside the chronically ill, pregnant women, babies, and people with disabilities are also suffering. According to the Red Cross, there are approximately 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, most of whom have been displaced and have almost no access to healthcare. Many are forced to give birth in unsafe conditions without proper nutrition or medical supervision, leading to high-risk deliveries.Urgent Support Needed for Gaza’s Healthcare Sector
Like many other sectors, Gaza’s healthcare system is in dire need of support.
IHH Provides Surgical Support to 357 Gazans
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which has been conducting humanitarian work in Gaza for years, continued its support until today. As part of its healthcare initiatives, IHH has sent 12 ambulances to Gaza. It has also provided 588 packages of medicines and medical supplies, 167 medical beds and examination cabinets, 40 wheelchairs, 100 patient walkers, 100 crutches, 18 hospital beds, 9,274 adult diapers, and 124,644 hygiene kits. Additionally, medical equipment such as ultrasound machines, X-ray devices, auto-refractometers, dental chairs, and patient monitors have also been delivered to hospitals.
Under its Surgery Support Project in Gaza, IHH has carried out 357 operations so far. The goal is to perform surgeries for hundreds more patients who have been waiting for urgent medical treatment.
Should you wish to support IHH’s Gaza initiatives and the Surgery Support Project, you can contribute via the foundation’s website.
