Gaza’s Healthcare System on the Brink: Nasser and Al-Amal Hospitals Face Total Shutdown

Southern Gaza's Last Hospitals Are Nearing Collapse

The healthcare system in southern Gaza is facing imminent collapse as Nasser Medical Complex and Al-Amal Hospital, the last two partially functioning hospitals in the region, struggle to remain operational. These two facilities are the final lifeline for over 700,000 residents and displaced Palestinians in and around Khan Younis.

At Nasser Medical Complex, medical staff warn that operations could cease entirely within 72 hours. The hospital is critically short on fuel, essential medications, and surgical supplies while facing growing pressure from continued Israeli military threats and evacuation orders across surrounding neighborhoods.

Al-Amal Hospital, which once provided vital services like ICU care, radiology, and surgical units, has already stopped functioning. Though not officially ordered to evacuate, the area was designated a combat zone, making access virtually impossible.

Fuel and Medical Supplies Have Nearly Run Out

Doctors at Nasser Hospital report that fuel reserves will not last more than two days, forcing the adoption of a strict energy rationing system. This has already led to the shutdown of several departments and a reduction in the number of surgeries. The hospital now limits full operations to daytime hours, with nighttime shifts focusing only on emergency cases.

The situation is further complicated by Israeli restrictions on fuel delivery, as storage points have been classified as “red zones,” preventing fuel trucks from entering. With generators being the only source of electricity, the continued operation of intensive care units, dialysis machines, and emergency rooms is in serious jeopardy.

WHO and Human Rights Groups Raise Alarms

A delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) visited Nasser Medical Complex recently and expressed grave concern over the conditions. The organization confirmed that both Nasser and Al-Amal hospitals are operating far beyond their capacity, facing severe shortages of essential drugs and life-saving equipment.

Human rights observers have condemned the situation as part of a systematic targeting of Gaza’s health infrastructure, citing that 36 hospitals have gone out of service since October 2023. Dozens of medical personnel have been killed or detained, further straining already overwhelmed medical teams.

According to international legal experts, the deliberate obstruction of medical aid and fuel may constitute violations of international humanitarian law under the Geneva and Hague Conventions, potentially amounting to collective punishment and crimes of genocide.