Archive · 12 Nov 2025
Gaza Hospitals Overwhelmed, Patients Face Long Waits for Urgent Surgeries
Imagine Gaza's hospitals are like schools that have been damaged by a big storm.
Even though the storm has calmed down a bit, the schools are still broken and have too many students.
Kids who get hurt, like 14-year-old Mohammed, have to wait a very long time for the doctors to fix them, sometimes weeks or even months.
This is because there aren't enough doctors, nurses, or even the right tools and medicines to help everyone.
The hospitals are trying their best, working day and night, but they can only help a few people at a time.
Some students who need help with their legs might end up losing them if they wait too long, and others might get sicker.
Even though more supplies are coming in now, it's not enough to fix everything, and many people are still suffering and waiting for care.
Gaza's healthcare system is severely strained, with only about half of its hospitals partially functional after extensive war damage.
Thousands of injured Palestinians, like 14-year-old Mohammed Wael Helles with a spinal injury, face long waits for urgent surgeries due to hospital backlogs.
Hospitals are grappling with critical shortages of staff, medicine, and fuel, impacting the ability to provide timely and effective care.
Doctors are forced to prioritize urgent cases, leading to delays that can worsen injuries, lead to amputations, or allow diseases like cancer to spread.
While some aid has increased since the ceasefire, health officials describe the sector as being in a state of 'total collapse'.
- Who
- Fourteen-year-old Mohammed Wael Helles, other injured Gazans, hospital staff (Mohamed Abu Selmia, Mohammed Saqer), and local health authorities.
- What
- Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with hospitals overwhelmed by a surge in war-related injuries, severe shortages of staff, medicine, and equipment, leading to long waiting lists for urgent surgeries and deteriorating patient conditions.
- When
- Ongoing, with specific mention of a patient waiting nearly two months for surgery and others for three months, despite a ceasefire that went into effect on October 10.
- Where
- Gaza Strip, specifically mentioning Nasser hospital in Khan Younis and al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
- Why
- Devastating Israeli military campaign has injured at least 170,000 Gazans, destroyed much of the territory's infrastructure, and strained health facilities. Shortages of fuel, medicine, equipment, and staff, coupled with a large influx of displaced people, have crippled the healthcare system.
Gaza Health Officials and Patients
Israel and Hamas Claims on Aid and Ceasefire
Hospital Functionality and Patient Care
Gaza Health Officials and Patients
Only about half of Gaza's 36 hospitals are partially functional due to damage, leading to immense strain on staff and resources. Patients with serious injuries like spinal wounds are facing surgery delays of up to two months or more, with some deteriorating or dying while waiting. Doctors are forced to make difficult decisions about prioritizing urgent cases.
Israel and Hamas Claims on Aid and Ceasefire
Israel states it has allowed the daily required trucks of supplies under the truce deal. (Note: The article does not contain direct counterpoints from Israel regarding hospital damage or delays to specific medical equipment and medicine).
Availability of Medical Supplies and Staff
Gaza Health Officials and Patients
Hospitals face severe shortages of staff, medicine, and fuel. Over 60% of necessary medicines are unavailable at al-Shifa hospital, and essential equipment like MRI and mammography machines are non-functional. Many doctors and nurses have been killed or are in detention.
Israel and Hamas Claims on Aid and Ceasefire
The article mentions Israel's claim of allowing in daily supplies but Hamas disputes the quantity. Israel's military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on damage and delays.
Impact of Ceasefire on Aid and Services
Gaza Health Officials and Patients
Despite a ceasefire, the health system remains in a state of total collapse. While the number of operating hospitals increased slightly from 14 to 18, the influx of internally displaced people and continued destruction strain services.
Israel and Hamas Claims on Aid and Ceasefire
Israel claims it is facilitating humanitarian aid, including fuel, according to the ceasefire. The article notes more aid and fuel are coming in since the ceasefire.
- Injured Gazans
- At least 170,000 (according to local health authorities)
- Functional Hospitals (Post-Ceasefire)
- About 18 (up from 14)
- Total Hospitals in Gaza
- 36
- Delayed Surgeries (Al-Shifa Hospital)
- 40,000
- Lost Medical Staff (Killed/Detained)
- 1,700 doctors and nurses killed, 350 in detention
- Medication Availability (Al-Shifa)
- Over 60% of needed medicines unavailable
- Aid Trucks Claim (Israel)
- Daily 600 trucks allowed
- Aid Trucks Claim (Hamas-run Gaza Govt.)
- Barely 150 daily entering