Hospitals in the West Bank are facing a severe and unprecedented crisis, as warehouse shelves have been emptied of essential treatments and necessary medical supplies. This deterioration is a direct result of the Israeli occupation authorities withholding clearance funds, which constitute the backbone of the Palestinian Authority's budget, accounting for up to 68%.
This financial policy has led to the accumulation of huge debts on the Palestinian Ministry of Health, negatively impacting the ability of pharmaceutical supply companies and private hospitals to continue operating. Official bodies have warned that hundreds of essential drug types have completely run out, putting the lives of thousands of patients at risk.
Official data for 2025 indicates that Israel is withholding approximately 3 billion dollars of Palestinian clearance funds. This measure has caused deep economic fragility and led to the Authority's inability to fulfill its obligations towards the health sector, which relies primarily on these revenues.
Private and non-governmental hospitals were not immune to this disaster, despite having served as a safety valve in previous crises. The Ministry of Health's debt to these hospitals reached about 900 million dollars, out of a total health debt of 1.3 billion dollars, posing an existential challenge that threatens their survival.
Figures released by the Ministry of Health reflect the depth of the tragedy, with 726 types of medicines completely depleted from central warehouses. The shortage also affected 265 specialized medical products, in addition to the absence of 50 types of cancer drugs out of 97 types previously available.
Yousef Al-Takrouri, head of the Union of Private and Non-Governmental Hospitals, confirmed that the situation has reached a critical stage, prompting some institutions to apologize for accepting new cases. He explained that the severe shortage of medicines and supplies has made it difficult to provide advanced services or adequately care for oncology patients.
For his part, Muhannad Habash, head of the Union of Pharmaceutical Supply Partners, revealed a tragic reality faced by supply companies that have received only 1% of their dues over the past six months. This financial setback has led to the depletion of the strategic stock allocated for emergencies without the ability to replenish it from external sources.
This crisis has caused the postponement of approximately 11,000 surgical operations scheduled since the beginning of the current year in various hospitals. The difficulties extend to the inability to provide the simplest surgical tools, such as surgical sutures, exacerbating the suffering of patients awaiting urgent medical interventions.
The Ministry of Health warned of an imminent danger threatening the lives of 4,000 cancer patients due to the absence of specialized treatment protocols. The depletion of essential medical consumables from central warehouses means the cessation of vital services that Palestinian patients cannot obtain elsewhere.
Mustafa Al-Qawasmi, Director General of Hospitals, launched an urgent appeal for international intervention to save what can be saved in the health sector. He indicated that the continued withholding of funds makes it impossible to continue localizing medical services, calling for immediate support to ensure the provision of minimum care for citizens.
The health sector, whose services were previously highly regarded, now faces a real threat of comprehensive collapse due to the suffocating financial crisis.
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The health sector in the West Bank on the verge of collapse due to the withholding of clearance funds