Published On 1/5/2026
The Director General of the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, Munir Al-Bursh, said that the health conditions in the Strip are witnessing an almost complete collapse despite the passage of more than 200 days since the announcement of the ceasefire, stressing that the truce remained a dead letter and did not turn into real peace.
Al-Barsh added, in statements to Al Jazeera Mubasher, that the Ministry of Health has documented more than 2,600 violations since the beginning of the truce, with a violation rate approximately every two hours, while the number of martyrs after its announcement exceeded 824 martyrs, including a large percentage of children and women, in light of the continued raids and shooting of civilians.
He pointed out that the truce reduced the severity of military operations without stopping them, pointing out that Israel expanded its areas of control and imposed a new field reality, at a time when the population is living amid widespread destruction and an acute shortage of food, medicine, and fuel, which has led to a worsening of the humanitarian and health conditions.
Al-Barsh stated that the health system in the Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented collapse, with only about 16 hospitals out of 38 operating with limited capacity, in light of the widespread destruction that has affected hospitals, ambulance centers, and oxygen stations. He said that intensive care departments are working beyond their capacity, while the sector suffers from a severe shortage of more than 50% of essential medicines and 57% of medical supplies.
The Palestinian official also warned of a possible shutdown of hospitals due to a lack of oxygen and the prevention of the entry of maintenance equipment and oxygen stations, stressing that patients in Gaza are left to confront the disease without tools or solutions, in light of the continued closure of the treatment file abroad, as only limited numbers not exceeding 47 people are allowed to travel per day.
He pointed to the widespread spread of diseases and malnutrition, including skin and respiratory diseases and epidemics associated with rodents and parasites, as a result of difficult living conditions and the deterioration of the health environment.
In a related context, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Gaza stressed the importance of international initiatives, such as the fleets to break the siege, and said that they contribute to highlighting the suffering of the residents of the Gaza Strip, and confirm the continuation of the siege imposed on more than 2.4 million Palestinians, accusing Israel of following a selective policy in entering aid, allowing non-essential materials and preventing other vital materials such as medicines and fuel.
