Gaza Hospital Cuts Services Amid Fuel Shortage; Israel Blocks Patient Evacuations
Al-Wafa Medical Rehabilitation and Specialized Surgery Hospital in the Gaza Strip announced on Monday it is reducing its services due to an operational crisis stemming from a lack of fuel and maintenance supplies, attributed to the Israeli blockade. This is the second hospital in Gaza to announce service reductions in two days due to fuel shortages, following a similar announcement from Kuwait Specialized Field Hospital on Sunday.
Al-Wafa Hospital stated it has temporarily suspended several essential services, including outpatient clinics, surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, and speech and swallowing disorder services. The hospital described the situation as a critical operational and humanitarian crisis, citing a severe shortage of diesel fuel needed for generators and vehicles, as well as difficulties in obtaining spare parts and maintenance supplies.
Generators are the primary power source for Gaza's hospitals, which have faced a complete electricity outage for three years. The hospital's administration explained the service suspension is intended to conserve available resources for inpatients and critical medical services. Al-Wafa Hospital serves thousands of patients, including the injured and disabled, many of whom rely on continuous rehabilitation and treatment.
The hospital warned that without urgent intervention, further service reductions are likely, potentially jeopardizing its ability to continue providing medical and rehabilitation care. It issued an urgent appeal to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations, and other humanitarian and supporting bodies to intervene and provide necessary operational supplies.
Meanwhile, Israel prevented patients and the injured from Gaza from traveling abroad for treatment on Monday, the second consecutive day, citing Jewish holidays. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that no patients or injured individuals were evacuated through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings on Sunday and Monday due to the holiday closures. This follows Israel's reduction on Thursday of the number of patients, injured individuals, and their companions permitted to travel to Egypt from 136 to 61.
The Ministry of Health called Israel's action a "flagrant violation of the right to treatment," warning it endangers hundreds of lives by denying them timely access to specialized hospitals. The WHO and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights urged immediate intervention and direct pressure on Israeli authorities to cease these "arbitrary conditions." According to the WHO Director-General, thousands of patients in Gaza are awaiting medical evacuation, with over 20,000 currently on a waiting list.
