In the midst of escalating violence in the region, hospitals in Gaza have turned into both lifelines and battlegrounds, caught between the surging demand for medical care and the relentless realities of war.
Health officials report that the healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. Overcrowded facilities, dwindling supplies, and power outages have created dire conditions for patients and medical staff alike. Ambulances struggle to navigate debris-laden streets, and makeshift clinics have sprung up in schools and community centers to accommodate the growing number of injured civilians.
Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, has become a stark symbol of the crisis. Originally built to handle hundreds of patients, it now houses thousands, with patients lying on floors and in hallways. “The hospital is overwhelmed,” said Dr. Ayman Hamdan, a senior physician. “We lack medicine, equipment, and space. Every day, we face impossible decisions about who to treat first.”
The situation is exacerbated by ongoing airstrikes and ground operations that have made hospitals themselves targets. Several facilities have reported structural damage from nearby explosions, forcing evacuations of patients mid-treatment. Medical workers have described harrowing scenes of performing surgeries under candlelight and treating children with whatever resources are available.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has condemned attacks on healthcare infrastructure, calling them a violation of international humanitarian law. “Hospitals must remain sanctuaries of healing, not arenas of conflict,” said a WHO spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the region’s deteriorating conditions have drawn international attention and calls for ceasefires to allow for humanitarian aid. The United Nations has urged all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and medical facilities, but negotiations remain stalled amid deepening tensions.
For the people of Gaza, hospitals are no longer just places of healing—they have become microcosms of the broader devastation, where hope and resilience contend with despair. “We are doing everything we can to save lives,” said Dr. Hamdan. “But without urgent intervention, the cost in human suffering will only rise.”
