The healthcare system in the Gaza Strip is facing catastrophic failure as critical shortages of medical supplies and medications threaten to suspend approximately 10,000 scheduled surgical procedures, according to a senior health official. Alaa Halas, Director of the Care and Pharmacy Department within the Ministry of Health, issued an urgent warning that this developing crisis represents a severe crime endangering tens of thousands of vulnerable patients.
Speaking to the Safa news agency, Halas revealed that multiple medical facilities that survived recent military operations have already suspended both scheduled and emergency surgeries. Among affected institutions is the Kuwait Specialized Hospital, a critical healthcare provider serving thousands of wounded civilians and patients requiring specialized care.
The official emphasized that even emergency surgical interventions will face severe limitations if supply shortages persist. Current crisis levels have reached unprecedented severity according to health authorities monitoring the situation.
Halas attributed the medical supply crisis to insufficient aid delivery despite ceasefire agreements. Since the October 10 truce took effect, Israel has permitted only 30% of agreed-upon supplies to enter the coastal territory, creating dire shortages across healthcare infrastructure.
Comprehensive data from the Government Press Office reveals significant aid delivery discrepancies: only 17,819 trucks have entered Gaza out of 43,800 planned deliveries, averaging merely 244 daily shipments instead of the required 600. The fuel shortage proves particularly devastating, with only 394 fuel trucks arriving versus 3,650 promised, paralyzing hospital operations, bakeries, and water treatment facilities.
The cumulative effect threatens approximately 200,000 patients requiring ongoing medical care, including 700 monthly intensive care patients and roughly 10,000 individuals awaiting surgical intervention.