In a devastating blow to the already strained healthcare system in the Gaza Strip, Al-Awda Hospital, situated in the city of Jabalia in northern Gaza, has been compelled to halt all medical services indefinitely. The closure comes as a result of acute shortages in fuel and medical supplies, as reported by the Wafa news agency.

Dr. Muhammad Salha, the director of the monitoring and evaluation department at Al-Awda, expressed grave concerns over the implications of this shutdown. He emphasized that the cessation of services at the hospital would leave citizens devoid of essential healthcare, particularly in light of the closure of all hospitals in the northern region.

In a desperate plea for assistance, Dr. Salha urged international humanitarian and human rights organizations to intervene and exert pressure on Israel to provide the hospital with urgently needed medicines, consumables, medical supplies, and fuel.

The dire situation at Al-Awda Hospital has been exacerbated by a recent siege imposed by Israeli forces, lasting for a harrowing 18 days. The siege inflicted substantial damage to the hospital building, particularly its upper floors, and resulted in the destruction of several ambulances, according to the report.

The closure of Al-Awda Hospital underscores the precariousness of the healthcare infrastructure in Gaza, where medical facilities have long struggled to cope with overwhelming demand amidst severe resource constraints. With Al-Awda being the last operational hospital in northern Gaza, its shutdown leaves thousands of Palestinians without access to vital medical care, raising urgent concerns about the well-being and survival of the population, particularly in times of crisis.

As international attention turns to the plight of Gaza’s healthcare system, concerted efforts are needed to address the immediate needs of Al-Awda Hospital and to ensure sustained support for healthcare services in the region. Failure to act swiftly risks exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.