Israeli Regime’s Blockade Risks Closure of Key Gaza Hospital, Health Officials Say

They said that despite more than four months since the ceasefire began, the Israeli regime has continued violations through ongoing bombardment and a tight blockade on the enclave.

Regarding the hospital risk, Khalil al‑Daqran, spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in central Gaza, warned on Saturday of a possible sudden shutdown due to generator failures and restrictions preventing spare parts and fuel from entering Gaza hospitals.

He said the hospital faces paralysis amid a continuing health crisis affecting all Gaza hospitals.

In remarks to Al‑Araby Al‑Jadeed, al-Daqran stated that hospital management has rationed electricity and cut power to non-essential departments to keep critical units operating, including intensive care, kidney and cardiac departments, operating rooms, admissions, and neonatal wards.

Concerning infrastructure damage, he noted that two main generators at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital have stopped working and that a small backup generator cannot meet round-the-clock needs.

He added that the shortage of spare parts and continued border closures threaten sudden shutdown and pose serious risks to patients and the wounded.

Al-Daqran said the generators have operated continuously for more than two years and many are worn out, while the Israeli regime blocks entry of necessary repair parts.

He added that the occupying authorities apply a “drip-feed” fuel policy that keeps hospitals constantly at risk of shortages.

Turning to humanitarian impact, the spokesperson stressed that Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the only government hospital in central Gaza, serves over half a million people amid massive displacement, and its closure would be a major disaster.

He added that Gaza hospitals face severe shortages of medicines and equipment and that since the war began the occupying authorities have allowed in only 10% of the health system’s actual needs and no new medical equipment.

Al-Daqran said more than 59% of essential medicines, over 60% of laboratory supplies and medical solutions, and about 70% of basic medical consumables are completely unavailable.

He added that most Gaza hospitals were rendered unusable during the war and their recovery after the ceasefire has been very slow because construction materials and medical equipment are barred from entry.

From an official perspective, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza warned of an imminent collapse of the enclave’s healthcare system.

The ministry said remaining operational hospitals struggle to provide even basic services and have effectively become temporary waiting rooms for thousands of patients and wounded facing uncertain outcomes.

It added that the catastrophic health crisis has made ongoing medical care extremely challenging and rendered restoration of specialized services impossible.

The ministry also said near-total shortages of medicines and equipment have turned even basic painkillers into inaccessible luxuries for patients facing life-threatening conditions.

Separately, on disease risks, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of the Al‑Shifa Medical Complex, warned that Gaza faces a widespread respiratory virus outbreak marked by rapid transmission, high fever, and acute pneumonia.

Abu Salmiya said shortages of functioning laboratories and testing equipment prevent precise identification of viral strains or scientifically guided treatment by medical teams.

He added that this exposes vulnerable patients to potentially fatal complications as the healthcare system nears collapse.

Regarding fuel shortages, Gaza medical sources reported that the continuing lack of fuel threatens the system’s capacity to deliver essential care and increasingly complicates the transfer of emergency cases abroad for treatment.

Finally, Alaa Helles, director of care and pharmacy at Gaza’s health ministry, warned that unprecedented erosion of the healthcare system after two years of war and blockade has sharply limited diagnostic and treatment services while stocks of medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory materials have fallen drastically.