A new report by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip showed the worsening health conditions in the Gaza Strip, which has been subjected since last October 7 to devastating Israeli bombing, accompanied by large-scale ground operations.

The report highlights the state of the health infrastructure in the devastated Strip and the rapid increase in the number of medical personnel who died as a result of Israeli military operations, as well as the spread of some infectious diseases in light of the absence of the necessary basic materials, the food crisis and the scarcity of clean drinking water.

On Wednesday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said that at least 32,975 Palestinians were killed, while 75,577 were injured as a result of the continuous Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip since last October 7.

On Tuesday, the American relief organization World Central Kitchen announced the cessation of its operations in Gaza after Israel killed 7 members of its team in an Israeli strike while unloading aid that arrived from Cyprus to the besieged Gaza Strip, which is threatened by famine.

The medical infrastructure in the Gaza Strip was not spared from the destruction caused by Israeli military actions, as images taken by satellites and analyzed by the United Nations Satellite Center showed that 35% of the buildings in the Gaza Strip were destroyed or damaged during the Israeli attack on the Palestinian Strip.

In its evaluation, the center used high-resolution satellite images collected on February 29, and compared them with images taken before and after the outbreak of the most recent conflict.

He concluded that 35% of all buildings in the Gaza Strip, i.e. 88,868 buildings, were damaged or completely destroyed. He said that 31,198 buildings were completely destroyed, 16,908 buildings were severely damaged, and 40,762 buildings were moderately damaged.

Targeting health infrastructure

The Israeli war on the Gaza Strip caused damage to Gaza's infrastructure estimated at about $18.5 billion, according to a new World Bank report published on Tuesday. The World Bank noted in its non-final assessment of the damages that the figure represents 97% of the combined economic output of the occupied West Bank and Gaza in the year 2022.

A report by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip showed that 32 hospitals were out of service as a result of targeting and raiding operations carried out by Israeli forces.

The World Bank assessment estimates that 84% of health facilities in Gaza were either damaged or destroyed, while the battles displaced 75% of the population.

Thus, air strikes and targeting operations caused both Al-Shifa Hospital and Nasser Medical Complex to be taken out of service, with a capacity of 642 and 665 beds, respectively.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health report also showed that 53 health centers were out of service as a result of the Israeli attacks, and more than 126 ambulances were targeted and destroyed.

In total, the report stated that the number of health institutions that have been partially or completely targeted since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza has reached 155 institutions, indicating that hospitals have lost their treatment and capacity, which forces medical teams to treat the wounded with very limited capabilities.

The report, which was prepared based on sources of remote data collection, concluded that the water and sanitation networks in Gaza are “almost collapsed” and are operating at less than 5% of their capacity compared to before the outbreak of the war.

Targeting cadres

The Ministry of Health in Gaza revealed that 484 members of the health teams in the Strip were killed as a result of the ongoing Israeli military actions.

Among them are 134 members of the nursing staff, 84 doctors, 46 paramedics, 46 pharmacists, 39 physical therapists, 38 dentists, 32 dental students, 25 administrators, 16 individuals working in medical analyses, 9 ophthalmologists, and 7 2 academics, 4 radiology technicians, 3 psychologists and 1 dentist.

About a week ago, the Israeli army besieged two hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip, days after the military operation that targeted Al-Shifa Hospital, which is the largest medical facility in the besieged Strip.

The Palestinian Red Crescent then said, “The occupation forces are besieging both Al Amal Hospital and Nasser Hospital amid very violent shelling and heavy gunfire,” warning that “all our crews are currently under extreme danger, and cannot move at all.” The association had previously announced the death of one of its staff.

The Israeli army had launched a major operation in and around Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, and said it was targeting Hamas fighters. The army returned to the hospital after carrying out an operation there in November that attracted international criticism.

Last February, the Red Crescent said that the army besieged the medical facility for several days with shelling and gunfire, denouncing its targeting at a time when it includes thousands of displaced people.

The spread of disease

The Palestinian Ministry of Health said that it had monitored one million and 88 thousand and 764 cases of infectious diseases in primary care centers affiliated with the government and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA), including 31 thousand and 348 cases of hepatitis A infection as a result of large overcrowding in shelter centers and low levels of hygiene. In places of displacement in the Gaza Strip.

The data included in the Health Emergency Operations Center report showed that 578,845 cases of respiratory infection, 318,321 cases of acute diarrhea, 52,329 cases of skin rashes, 47,922 cases of lice, 35,336 cases of scabies, and 31,000 cases were recorded. There were 348 cases of jaundice, and 7,643 cases of smallpox.

The report indicated that there is a “major shortage” of materials for conducting laboratory blood tests (CBC) that are used to detect diseases, in addition to the laboratories of the northern and Gaza hospitals and the Nasser Medical Complex being out of service. Due to the continuation of Israeli military operations in the besieged sector.

The Ministry explained that it continues to provide its non-emergency services, despite the heavy burden and pressure resulting from the ongoing military operations, as the total number of operations performed in southern hospitals reached about 12,000 operations.

The report monitored an overcrowding in the number of patients attending dialysis units in southern hospitals, with the number reaching more than 155 patients.

Risk of famine

The Palestinian Ministry of Health recorded 28 deaths in the Gaza Strip as a result of malnutrition and dehydration since last February, explaining that the majority of the deceased were no more than 12 months old.

The Ministry added in its report that this number reflects what reaches hospitals only, noting that “dozens die silently as a result of starvation” without reaching hospitals.