Gaza Herald – Inside the corridors of Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, doctors and nurses are closely monitoring oxygen levels and ventilator systems amid a deepening crisis that threatens to halt oxygen supply to one of the territory’s largest hospitals.
In the neonatal unit, premature infants lie in incubators connected to oxygen tubes that support their breathing, while anxious mothers watch medical devices in fear of any sudden interruption. In intensive care units, patients depend entirely on ventilators, as repeated alarm signals indicate drops in oxygen pressure.
The hospital operates two oxygen generation plants; however, the main unit has gone out of service due to technical failures and depletion of essential operating materials. The secondary unit is functioning at limited capacity and is at risk of complete shutdown at any moment, according to the head of the engineering and maintenance department.
Outside the wards, dozens of empty oxygen cylinders are lined up in the hospital yard, awaiting refilling, as concerns grow over a potential full-scale shortage in critical departments.
Health authorities in Gaza have repeatedly warned that Israeli restrictions on the entry of medical supplies, equipment, and spare parts are severely undermining healthcare services and endangering patients’ lives.
Officials at the hospital describe the situation as a “slow suffocation” of the medical system, warning that continued disruption of oxygen supply could become a death sentence for hundreds of patients, particularly premature infants and intensive care cases.
Engineering staff says chronic shortages of spare parts and maintenance materials have forced the use of substandard alternatives, leading to repeated breakdowns and further damage to equipment.
The crisis reflects a broader collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system amid ongoing shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and critical infrastructure support.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, dozens of oxygen generation stations have been destroyed during the Israeli attacks, leaving only a limited number partially operational and unable to meet growing demand.
Health officials warn that without urgent intervention and the entry of new oxygen plants and spare parts, the healthcare system faces an imminent humanitarian catastrophe.
