Gaza's health system faces severe crisis as medicine, ambulance services dwindle

Health officials in Gaza warned Saturday of a severe health crisis in the enclave, with critical shortages of medicines, equipment and ambulance services threatening hundreds of thousands of patients, reported Xinhua. Mohammed Abu Afash, director of the Medical Relief Organization in Gaza, said the health system has not received promised medical convoys since the ceasefire, leaving a critical shortage of medicines and equipment, with medical testing supplies deficit exceeding 87 percent. He noted that over 24,000 patients with chronic conditions lack proper care, and that many of the more than 300,000 hypertension patients have suffered serious complications due to interrupted treatment. With summer heat intensifying, he warned of rapidly spreading infectious diseases in crowded displacement camps. Meanwhile, Gaza-based health authorities said in a statement that 70 percent of ambulance vehicles are out of service due to direct targeting, mechanical failures and lack of spare parts, warning that the continued ban on the entry of tires and spare parts could paralyze the transportation system. The deteriorating situation drew condemnation from Fatah official Munther al-Hayek, who, in a radio interview, described the situation as a full-fledged war led by the United States through Israel. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has been in effect since Oct. 10, 2025.