The health system in Gaza has effectively become a casualty of armed conflict, according to the spokesperson of the International Committee of the Red Cross (International Committee of the Red Cross) based in Rafah, Pat Griffiths.
He stated that hospitals across the besieged Gaza Strip are no longer functioning normally. Many medical facilities show visible signs of gunfire on their walls, while several buildings have sustained severe structural damage due to explosions. This has significantly hindered the ability of medical staff to maintain routine healthcare services and emergency treatment.
Griffiths further noted that since the ceasefire announced in October of the previous year, there has been some change in the overall situation. According to him, large-scale mass casualty incidents have become somewhat less frequent than before. However, he emphasised that this does not indicate an end to hostilities, as lethal incidents continue to occur on a regular basis.
He also described a distressing account provided by a surgeon, who treated a child suffering from a severe head injury. Despite medical efforts, the child ultimately died while still in the surgeon’s care. Griffiths highlighted that such incidents have a profound psychological impact on medical professionals working under extremely challenging conditions.
According to him, these experiences are difficult for healthcare workers to process or forget, given the frequency and severity of trauma cases. He added that medical staff in Gaza are operating under sustained pressure, with limited resources and continued exposure to conflict-related casualties.
Impact on Gaza’s Health System
| Category | Reported Condition |
|---|---|
| Hospital functionality | No longer operating normally |
| Infrastructure damage | Gunfire marks and explosion-related destruction |
| Medical operations | Severely constrained under current conditions |
| Ceasefire impact | Fewer mass casualty events, but violence continues |
| Healthcare workforce | Operating under extreme and sustained pressure |
| Clinical environment | High trauma exposure affecting staff wellbeing |
Griffiths reiterated that for the population in Gaza, the realities of death and destruction remain part of daily life. Within this context, hospitals, healthcare infrastructure, and medical professionals continue to function under exceptionally strained and hazardous conditions, struggling to provide care amid ongoing instability.