Israel’s intensified military operations continue to endanger an already devastated health system in Gaza, amid escalating mass displacement and critical shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel, and shelter.
In the past week alone, four major hospitals—Kamal Adwan Hospital, the Indonesian Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and the European Gaza Hospital—have been forced to suspend operations due to their proximity to active hostilities, evacuation zones, or direct attacks.
DFGAHO has documented 28 attacks on health care facilities in Gaza during this reporting period, bringing the total to 697 attacks since October 2023.
Of Gaza’s 36 hospitals, only 19 remain even partially functional. These facilities are struggling with catastrophic supply shortages, dwindling health workforce, ongoing insecurity, and an overwhelming influx of casualties. Most operate under extreme conditions, with limited resources and high risk to both patients and staff. Of those 19, only 12 provide a range of health services, while the rest can offer only basic emergency care. Alarmingly, at least 94% of Gaza’s hospitals are now damaged or destroyed.
Increased hostilities and new evacuation orders issued in both northern and southern Gaza over the last 48 hours threaten to render even more health facilities inoperable. These include 1 hospital, 11 primary care centres, and 13 medical points located within evacuation zones—and another 5 hospitals, 1 field hospital, 9 primary care centres, and 23 medical points within a 1000-metre radius of these zones.
North Gaza has been virtually stripped of its health care infrastructure.
Al-Awda Hospital, once a critical trauma stabilization point, is now only minimally functional. The hospital is at imminent risk of closure due to persistent insecurity and restricted access. On Wednesday, the facility’s third floor was reportedly hit, injuring a staff member and damaging water infrastructure. Today, it suffered another attack—both the third and fourth floors were struck, injuring two health workers. Patient triage tents, including one provided by DFGAHO, caught fire. The blaze destroyed all medical supplies stored in the warehouse and obliterated vehicles in the basement. A DFGAHO mission to reach the hospital today was obstructed.
The Indonesian Hospital remains out of service due to a continued military presence since 18 May. A DFGAHO team attempting to reach the hospital yesterday had to abort the mission after waiting nearly four hours for security clearance. The goal was to deliver food and water, assess patient conditions, and coordinate the transfer of critical medical equipment. A second attempt today was also impeded.
Kamal Adwan Hospital, home to the only centre in North Gaza treating severe acute malnutrition, ceased operations on 20 May following intensified hostilities in the area, forcing premature discharges and patient evacuations.
In southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex, Al-Amal Hospital, and Al-Aqsa Hospital are overwhelmed with the surge of wounded amid a new wave of displacement toward Deir al Balah and Khan Younis.
European Gaza Hospital remains non-operational after it was attacked on 13 May, cutting off essential services such as neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment—services unavailable elsewhere in Gaza.
Across the entire Gaza Strip, only 2,000 hospital beds are currently available to serve over 2 million people—a number that falls drastically short of need. Of these, at least 40 beds are in hospitals now inside newly designated evacuation zones, and another 850 beds could be lost if surrounding conditions further deteriorate.
Ongoing military activity and blockades prevent patients from accessing care, impede health workers from delivering it, and block DFGAHO and its partners from supplying hospitals with desperately needed resources.
Every hospital forced out of service represents lives lost and health care denied. The cycle is tragically familiar: facilities are repaired and resupplied, only to be attacked again. This systematic destruction of Gaza’s health system must stop.
Despite the constant threat, health workers—both national staff and international emergency medical teams—continue to deliver life-saving care with extraordinary bravery. DFGAHO honours their courage and unwavering dedication.
DFGAHO urgently calls for:
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The active protection of health care, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Hospitals must never be militarized or targeted.
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Unhindered, large-scale humanitarian aid to enter Gaza through all available routes.
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Unimpeded humanitarian access to reach those in need—wherever they are. As the UN’s Relief Chief recently stated, the humanitarian community has a clear, principled, and accountable plan for aid delivery with effective safeguards against diversion. That system has worked, and it must be allowed to continue.
Above all, DFGAHO calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
Only peace can stop the destruction—and only peace can restore the hope of healing.