During the Gaza war, the healthcare system of Gaza was destroyed by Israeli attacks on hospitals and health facilities, killing of healthcare workers, and blockade of medical supplies from entering Gaza. The resulting collapse of the healthcare system was part of a broader humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by the war.
The hospitals faced a lack of fuel due to the Israeli siege and relied on backup generators for the first two weeks of the war. By 23 October 2023, Gaza hospitals began shutting down as they ran out of fuel, starting with the Indonesia Hospital. When hospitals lost power completely, multiple premature babies in NICUs died. By the end of May 2024, both the World Health Organization and International Rescue Committee reported only one-third of Gaza's hospitals remained at least partially operational.
Numerous medical staffers were killed, and ambulances, health institutions, medical headquarters, and multiple hospitals were destroyed.
The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said scores of ambulances and medical facilities were damaged or destroyed. By late-October, the Gaza Health Ministry stated the healthcare system had "totally collapsed", while on 13 January out of Gaza's 36 hospitals reportedly remained partially functional. By May 2024, the World Health Organization documented 450 Israeli attacks on Gaza's healthcare system.
October 2023 14 October Two upper floors of the Diagnostic Cancer Treatment Centre of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital was severely damaged by Israeli rocket fire."Anglican-run al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza damaged by Israeli rocket fire as war continues" . Anglican Communion News Service. Retrieved 17 October 2023. Red Crescent ambulances in Gaza were struck by the IAF.
15 October WHO stated four hospitals were no longer functioning after being targeted by Israeli airstrikes.Sforza, Lauren (16 October 2023). "WHO: Medical aid for Gaza holding at Rafah crossing" . The Hill. Retrieved 16 October 2023. WHO described Israel's evacuation order as a "death sentence" for the sick and wounded.Abdulrahim, Raja (15 October 2023). "Gaza's Hospitals Face 'Impossible' Choices With Israel Evacuation Order" . The New York Times. Retrieved 25 October 2023. Doctors across northern Gaza stated they were unable to follow Israel's evacuation order, since their patients, including newborns in the ICU, would die.Jobain, Najib; Kullab, Samya (15 October 2023). "UN shelters in besieged Gaza run out of water as Israeli ground offensive looms" . PBS. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
16 October MSF president Christos Christou wrote that the situation in Gaza was "horrific and catastrophic… No electricity, no medical supplies. Surgeons in Al-Shifa hospital are now operating without painkillers." Doctors warned of an impending disease outbreak due to hospital overcrowding and unburied bodies. The same day, the World Health Organization stated there were only "24 hours of water, electricity and fuel left" before "a real catastrophe."
17 October A widely condemned explosion in the al-Ahli courtyard resulted in significant fatalities. An explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist Hospital in Gaza City caused heavy casualties and triggered outrage in the Arab world.Major events during eight weeks of war between Israel and Hamas Retrieved 17 January 2024
18 October
The United States vetoed a UN resolution urging humanitarian aid to Gaza.
19 October The Ministry of Health asked for donations of liters of fuels to continue powering hospital generators."Authorities urgently request diesel to keep Gaza hospitals open" . Associated Press. Retrieved 19 October 2023. Gaza's only cancer hospital announced it had "perilously low" levels of remaining fuel."Unknown how much fuel remains at Gaza hospitals" . Associated Press. Retrieved 19 October 2023.Gostoli, Ylenia. "Gaza's only cancer hospital could shut down amid Israel's war and siege" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 October 2023. Doctors stated pediatric patients had developed gastroenteritis infections due to the lack of clean water.Talwar Badam, Ramola (19 October 2023). "Doctors warn of 'catastrophic' conditions in Gaza hospitals as medical supplies dwindle" . The National. Retrieved 19 October 2023. Airstrikes hit the area around al-Quds Hospital."Video shows purported airstrikes near Gaza's Al-Quds hospital" . NBC News. Retrieved 20 October 2023. The Red Cross stated Gaza's entire health system was "on its knees".Browne, Grace. "'The Whole Health System Is Collapsing Around Us.' Doctors Say Gaza Is on the Brink" . Wired. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
20 October Doctors Without Borders stated thousands of people were at risk of dying "within hours" because it was "impossible" to give them medical attention."Wounded in northern Gaza risk dying 'in hours': MSF" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 October 2023. Doctors at al-Quds Hospital and the Palestine Red Crescent reported they received a call from the Israeli army to evacuate the hospital or "bear the consequences".
21 October Medical Aid for Palestinians and UNICEF issued an "urgent warning" that 130 premature babies would die if fuel did not reach Gaza hospitals soon."Let's recap what has happened so far" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
22 October The UN Population Fund stated there were 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza."Over 100 incubator babies at risk as Israel cuts fuel to Gaza: UN" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 October 2023. A UN statement signed by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP and WHO stated deaths could soon "skyrocket" from disease and "lack of healthcare". UNRWA announced it would run out of fuel within three days, resulting in "no water, no functioning hospitals and bakeries".
23 October On 23 October, the Indonesia Hospital ran out of fuel and completely lost power."Gaza's health ministry warns of 'catastrophic consequences' as hospitals run out of fuel supply" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 23 October 2023. A Health Ministry spokesman announced the healthcare system had "totally collapsed", with 65 medics killed, 25 ambulances destroyed, and many hospitals soon shutting down due to lack of fuel."Healthcare system in Gaza has 'totally collapsed'" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 October 2023. The World Health Organization warned 46 of Gaza's 72 healthcare facilities had stopped functioning."Two-thirds of Gaza's health facilities not functioning: WHO" . Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
25 October Dr. Ashraf al-Qudra, of the Health Ministry, stated the health system was "completely out of service". The Health Ministry stated a total of 7,000 sick and wounded hospital patients were facing death. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital faced a dialysis crisis, with hundreds sharing only 24 dialysis machines.
27 October A Red Cross medical team arrived in Gaza, bringing medical supplies, a war surgery team, and a weapons contamination specialist. The Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis received a delivery of medical supplies, including antiseptic, injections, and medical mattresses, raising hopes more could be received "in the coming days".
28 October A communications blackout meant wounded civilians could not dial emergency services. Ambulances were evenly geographically distributed to provide "faster access to the injured." Israel conducted a heavy round of airstrikes and said that it was "expanding its ground forces" in besieged Gaza. Several of these air strikes reportedly hit near the vicinity of both al-Shifa Hospital and the Indonesia Hospital.
29 October The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that it had received warnings from Israeli authorities to immediately evacuate al-Quds hospital as it was "going to be bombarded". An Israeli airstrike struck 20 metres (65 feet) from al-Quds hospital. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta wrote on X that he was increasingly treating patients with "distinctive phosphorus burns."
30 October The Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was severely damaged by an Israeli airstrike. WHO announced it could no longer resupply al-Shifa and al-Quds hospitals due to the high levels of risk. Israel attacked the immediate surroundings of the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia.
31 October The Health Ministry announced the generators at two key Gaza hospitals were hours from shutting down. The Palestinian Health Ministry issued a last warning before the shutdown of the main electrical generator in the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, stating that there are only a few hours left before going out of service.
November 2023 1 November The director of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital stated Gaza's only cancer hospital was "completely out of service" after it ran out of fuel to power its generator. The Gaza Health Ministry stated the maternity ward at the Al-Helou International Hospital was hit by an Israeli bombardment.
2 November The Indonesia Hospital announced its main generator was no longer operational. UN OCHA reported that since 7 October (till 2 Nov.), around two-thirds (46 of 72) of primary healthcare clinics in Gaza have shut down because of damage or lack of fuel, which is increasing the pressure on the remaining health facilities that are still operational.Gaza Hospitals Are Collapsing and Can Be Targeted Anytime Retrieved 17 January 2024 Hospitals are facing a high volume of injured patients, morgues are at full capacity, and medical professionals are conducting surgeries without the use of anesthesia.Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing – 2 November 2023 Retrieved 17 June 2024 As of 2 November 2023, over 21,000 people are injured, and over 1.4 million people in Gaza have been displaced. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified 237 incidents targeting healthcare facilities, which clearly contravenes international humanitarian law.
3 November The Health Ministry stated 12 cancer patients had died after the Turkish Hospital shut down. The Ministry stated 800 critically wounded patients needed to leave Gaza to receive care, stating many critically wounded patients had died in the past several days due to the collapsed healthcare system. A medical convoy in front of al-Shifa hospital was destroyed by an Israeli drone missile. Al-Quds and Indonesia Hospital were both hit by airstrikes.
4 November The generators at Kamal Adwan Hospital shut down. The entrance of the al-Nasser Children's Hospital was hit by an Israeli strike. Red Cross president Mirjana Spoljaric Egger visited the Gaza Strip, stating, "The things I saw there are beyond anything that anyone should be in a position to describe."
5 November The Gaza health system was failing as a result of the Israeli blockade. Nearly half of all hospitals were out of service due to shortages of fuel and power, and amputations and C-sections were performed without anesthetic due to shortages of medical supplies.
6 November Israel bombed al-Shifa hospital's solar panels. Israeli ground forces advanced towards the Indonesian Sheikh Hamad Hospital.
8 November Italy announced it was sending a hospital ship to the coast of Gaza. Al-Quds Hospital stated Israel had destroyed all roads leading to the hospital. Al-Quds completely ran out of fuel and shut down most services.
9 November On 9 November, the Gaza government media office stated Israel had bombed eight hospitals in the past three days. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced Turkey was prepared to receive Gaza's pediatric cancer patients.
10 November The International Red Cross stated Gaza's healthcare system had "reached a point of no return." Israeli tanks surrounded four hospitals, al-Rantisi Hospital, al-Nasr Hospital, and the eye and mental health hospitals, from all directions. The Nasser Rantissi paediatric cancer hospital caught on fire after being hit by an Israeli airstrike and began evacuations.