Gaza Herald_ Health professionals in Gaza say the medical situation remains dire, with almost no new medical supplies or equipment entering the territory despite a fragile ceasefire. Israeli restrictions continue to block the delivery of essential items, leaving hospitals struggling to cope.
According to medical coordinators working inside Gaza, doctors across the strip report that conditions in hospitals have barely improved since the truce began on October 10. While the number of war-related injuries has declined, staff continue to face severe shortages of medicine, disinfectants, and equipment.
The World Health Organization recently stated that only around 10 percent of the requested medical shipments have been allowed into Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
Severe sanitation issues are also contributing to infections, with one health volunteer describing hospitals as “breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses” due to the lack of disinfectants.
Overcrowding remains a major concern, with many patients sleeping on the floor or being discharged to tents outside hospital buildings. “We’re talking about patients who, in any normal country, would be in intensive care,” one aid worker said. “Some were recovering from coma-inducing injuries but had no beds available.”
One child, Saab, evacuated from northern Gaza after suffering a head injury that left half of his skull missing, was reportedly forced to sleep on the floor after being told to leave the hospital. “There are no beds, no medical equipment, and no relief for the doctors,” the aid worker said.
Medications for chronic and neurological conditions are also running out. Many children have developed seizures following trauma from the war, but anti-epileptic medicines such as Keppra are unavailable. Insulin and other drugs requiring refrigeration are also deteriorating due to a lack of electricity and cold storage.
Restrictions on ‘Dual-Use’ Items
A representative from a Palestinian aid organization monitoring entry permits said that almost no medical equipment or pharmaceuticals have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began. Most materials classified as “dual-use”, including basic hospital tools and construction supplies, remain prohibited.
Before the escalation in October 2023, around 1,400 items were on the “dual-use” list. That number has reportedly grown to roughly 4,000, now including certain medicines and even children’s clothing. The representative noted that just 90 trucks are entering Gaza daily, with humanitarian aid trucks making up only about 15 percent of the total.
Commercial shipments tend to prioritize easily approved food items rather than medical goods. “You can’t even find paracetamol in hospitals or pharmacies,” he said, adding that mobility aids like wheelchairs and prosthetics are almost entirely banned.
The number of people living with disabilities in Gaza has risen sharply since the beginning of Israel’s assault. Recent figures show that about 58,000 people are now living with disabilities, including more than 22,000 who have sustained life-changing injuries. Many have lost assistive devices during displacement, and organizations warn of an increasing need for hearing aids, prosthetics, and rehabilitation equipment.
“We have children with hearing difficulties who can’t take part in therapy or learning sessions because the diagnostic and hearing devices are gone,” said the director of a local rehabilitation center. Specialized testing equipment for children under five is currently unavailable anywhere in Gaza.
Medical Teams Blocked from Entry
Foreign medical delegations are still being denied access to Gaza. One surgeon who has worked on trauma cases in the strip for more than a decade said her team was informed a day before departure that their entry had been rejected.
Since October 2023, health workers have been restricted to a maximum of five seats per month on aid convoys. The next available convoy is already full, leaving hundreds of specialists waiting for permission to enter.
Medical professionals report that Israeli authorities are more likely to approve entry for logistics or administrative staff than for doctors or surgeons. “Anyone with a medical title seems to face far more scrutiny,” said one volunteer.
Teams that recently managed to enter Gaza confirmed that hospitals remain critically short-staffed and under-equipped. The territory has lost more than 17,000 medical workers since October 2023, with nearly 100 still detained by Israeli forces.
