Gaza Herald – The Gaza Center for Human Rights warned that Israeli restrictions on the entry of engine oils, spare parts, and maintenance supplies are severely disrupting essential services across the Gaza Strip, particularly in healthcare and humanitarian sectors.
In a statement issued Sunday, the center said the ban, classified under “dual-use materials”, is not merely affecting commercial goods, but the core infrastructure that sustains hospitals, ambulances, water systems, bakeries, and aid delivery operations. Field reports indicate that dozens of vehicles and machines have stopped functioning due to the depletion of essential oils and parts, forcing technicians to rely on temporary and unreliable fixes.
Hospitals, already strained by power outages, depend heavily on generators that require regular maintenance. The shortage has led to the shutdown of a major generator at Nasser Medical Complex, increasing the risk of power interruptions in critical departments such as intensive care units and operating rooms.
The crisis has also hit ambulance and civil defense fleets, with many vehicles rendered inoperable due to lack of maintenance materials. The center warned that such disruptions could delay emergency response and cost lives, especially amid ongoing hostilities.
Beyond healthcare, the restrictions have impacted water facilities, sewage systems, and food supply chains. Aid agencies relying on vehicle fleets are facing growing challenges in distributing essential goods, further deepening food insecurity.
The center stressed that blocking maintenance supplies constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow the immediate entry of these materials to prevent further collapse of vital services.
