A year after the ‘ceasefire’, Gaza’s healthcare is still collapsing

What Happened

Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) reports that Gaza's healthcare system remains in a state of collapse one year after a ceasefire was announced on October 10, 2023. According to MAP, ongoing Israeli bombardment and restrictions on medical supplies and evacuations have resulted in over 1,470 deaths since the ceasefire began. Specific incidents include the death of a 65-year-old patient by Israeli quadcopter fire in Jabalia and the death of a newborn with a heart condition at the Assahaba Medical Complex due to a lack of surgical capacity. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported in August that 22 of 34 oxygen stations in Gaza have ceased operations, with Israeli authorities blocking the entry of spare parts classified as dual-use items.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The degradation of Gaza's medical infrastructure represents a critical humanitarian crisis, as the inability to provide routine care, cancer treatments, and emergency surgeries leads to preventable deaths. The classification of medical equipment as dual-use items by Israeli authorities creates a persistent bottleneck that prevents the stabilization of the health sector, effectively leaving millions of residents without access to essential diagnostic and life-saving services.

Watch For

Monitor the status of the 15,000 patients identified by the World Health Organization as requiring medical evacuation, as well as any changes to the entry protocols for medical supplies and spare parts for oxygen and diagnostic equipment.