Gaza Herald- The Director-General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Munir Al-Barsh, said that the ministry and medical staff are preparing to receive approximately 1,900 prisoners who are expected to be released by the Israeli occupation under the ceasefire agreement.
Al-Barsh has called for the inclusion of two Palestinian doctors, Hossam Abu Safia and Marwan Al-Hams, along with the bodies of deceased healthcare workers, in the upcoming prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and the Israeli occupation.
He explained that Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis has been prepared to receive the freed prisoners immediately upon their arrival.
Medical teams will conduct comprehensive health examinations to assess their physical and psychological conditions.
Al-Barsh noted that many of the prisoners suffer from skin diseases, such as scabies, due to the harsh conditions of detention.
He stressed that the ministry will provide the necessary treatment despite the severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies caused by the war.
According to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal, the Israeli occupation is set to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, in addition to around 1,700 detainees from Gaza who were arrested after October 7, 2023.
The health official also expressed hope for the restoration of Gaza’s healthcare system, which has been devastated by the two-year conflict. He said medical teams continue to assess the damage to hospitals and clinics across the Strip and determine urgent needs.
Al-Barsh highlighted that around 17,000 patients urgently need to travel abroad for treatment due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and the lack of essential medicines and equipment.
Since October 2023, Gaza has endured one of the deadliest wars in modern history, which has left the territory in ruins. According to the Government Media Office, about 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, and two million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced.
The war has killed or left missing 77,000 people, including more than 20,000 children and 12,500 women. Hundreds of medical, journalistic, and humanitarian workers are among the victims. Around 170,000 people have been wounded, with thousands requiring urgent treatment and rehabilitation abroad.
Over 6,700 Palestinians remain detained in Israeli prisons, where reports of torture persist.
All sectors of life in Gaza have been devastated: 670 schools, 165 educational institutions, 38 hospitals, dozens of health centers, 40 cemeteries, and seven mass graves within hospitals have been damaged or destroyed. More than 300,000 housing units were completely demolished, and 200,000 others were partially damaged.
As Gaza enters a fragile stage of recovery, Al-Barsh said the health sector faces an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” urging the international community to act swiftly to save lives and rebuild the devastated medical infrastructure.
