One year has passed since the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza, yet the region’s healthcare system continues to disintegrate rather than recover. Although medical professionals initially hoped the truce would provide breathing room to repair facilities, restock medicines, and resume medical evacuations, none of these critical advancements have materialized.
As the conflict enters its third year, health workers report being overwhelmed by ongoing bombardment. More than 1,470 individuals have been killed since the ceasefire began, and accessing medical care remains perilous. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) has been forced to suspend services in certain areas due to deteriorating security. Last month, a 65-year-old patient was killed by Israeli military drone fire while seeking treatment at a MAP-supported center in Jabalia.
Beyond traumatic injuries from recent attacks, the health system struggles to manage long-term conditions. Patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer face severe shortages of essential medications and radiotherapy. Children who survived acute malnutrition now suffer from anemia and stunting, while those requiring dialysis lack consistent access to treatment. Israeli authorities continue to restrict regular deliveries of medical supplies and equipment.
The human cost of these restrictions is illustrated by the death of Iktimal, the aunt of a MAP colleague. In February, delayed testing due to supply shortages meant she did not receive a cervical cancer diagnosis until over a month later. Although she underwent surgery in April, she developed kidney complications requiring specialist care unavailable in Gaza. The medical evacuation process was fraught with bureaucratic delays. By the time approval was granted, her condition had become critical. She traveled to Egypt but died two weeks later.
Iktimal’s case reflects a broader crisis. According to the World Health Organization, more than 15,000 people in Gaza are currently waiting for medical evacuation, with many facing preventable deaths due to prolonged wait times. In another recent incident, a newborn with a serious heart defect died at the Assahaba Medical Complex because emergency surgery was not available locally.
Basic supply shortages are also acute. Hospitals are running low on IV fluids, anesthetics, surgical tools, and oxygen. Over 500 patients across Gaza depend on oxygen, some around the clock. In August, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 22 of 34 oxygen stations had stopped functioning, with only four of 30 refilling machines still operational. Spare parts for repairs are classified as “dual-use” items and are blocked by Israeli authorities.
Diagnostic capabilities are similarly crippled. Gaza has no working MRI machines, and only one or two CT scanners serve approximately two million people. Consequently, doctors are often forced to make critical decisions without standard diagnostic tools, leading to missed early detections, permanent disabilities, and chronic developmental issues in children.
Healthcare providers emphasize that every delay in medicine, scans, or exits pushes patients beyond the point of recovery. With restrictions unchanged from a year ago, thousands of Gazans continue to run out of time.
Oxygen stations down is terrifying. Without spare parts, how do they expect to keep anyone alive? This is basic infrastructure failure.
Iktimal’s story absolutely destroys me. A preventable death due to a delayed diagnosis is unforgivable. The world is watching and doing nothing.
The bureaucratic delays for medical evacuations are killing people too. Why can’t safe passage be granted immediately for critical cases?
It is heartbreaking to read that over 1,400 people have died since the ceasefire. This isn’t peace; it’s a slow-motion crisis.