Gaza Health System Faces Collapse Amidst Renewed Israeli Strikes
Palestinian casualties and injuries were reported in southern Gaza on Monday following Israeli airstrikes. Sources in Gaza stated that one Palestinian was killed by Israeli army fire in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Rafah. Additionally, several civilians were wounded in two Israeli raids targeting areas west of Khan Younis. In the Atfayeh camp area, near "Samri's Barracks" west of Khan Younis, six Palestinians, mostly children, were injured when an Israeli strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people. One individual sustained critical injuries and was transported to Nasser Medical Hospital along with the other wounded.
Further reports from Khan Younis indicated that several civilians, including one critically injured, were hurt in two Israeli airstrikes that targeted a group of Palestinians near the Dream Palace intersection. These incidents occurred amidst ongoing shelling and targeting in various parts of southern Gaza.
The Gaza Ministry of Health announced that two Palestinians were killed and 25 others injured by Israeli army fire within the past 24 hours. The ministry also noted that numerous victims remain trapped under rubble and in roads, with emergency and civil defense crews facing difficulties reaching them. Since a ceasefire on October 11, 2025, the ministry claims 1,372 Palestinians have been killed and 4,659 injured, with 831 bodies recovered. The overall reported toll since October 7, 2023, has reached 73,786 killed and 174,771 injured, though the ministry acknowledges these figures may not be exhaustive due to ongoing missing persons and rescue access challenges.
In parallel with the military escalation, the Gaza Ministry of Health issued a stark warning about a new crisis threatening the operational capacity of hospitals. The ministry reported the cessation of medical personnel transport services due to a lack of fuel, operational supplies, and spare parts. It emphasized that this halt poses a direct threat to hospital services, preventing doctors, nurses, and technicians from reaching their workplaces, thereby impacting patient care and increasing the burden on existing medical staff. The ministry cautioned that continued disruption could lead to the shutdown of vital, life-saving departments.
The ministry highlighted that the scarcity of public transportation and the high cost of individual travel make it difficult for staff to maintain regular work attendance, given the severe economic and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. It urged international institutions, relevant authorities, and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to provide the necessary fuel, oil, and spare parts to reactivate the medical staff transport fleet. The ministry warned that neglecting the essential operational needs of the health system risks exacerbating the crisis, as hospitals continue to operate under immense pressure from casualties, resource shortages, and difficulties in medical staff access.
