Gaza hospitals struggling with severe shortages amid ongoing conflict

GAZA, PALESTINE-NOV. 18: Hospitals in Gaza are struggling to provide adequate care due to severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment, exacerbated by Israel’s ongoing blockade and military actions. The lack of essential resources, including anesthesia and medical tools, has forced medical professionals to operate under dire conditions. At the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, doctors have been forced to perform surgeries on patients wounded in Israeli airstrikes without anesthesia, a stark illustration of the deteriorating healthcare situation in the region. Dr. Iyad Mohammed al-Jabri, a physician at the hospital, explained that the health crisis in Gaza has worsened due to the lack of critical medical supplies, including anesthesia, and the inability to obtain electric generators to power essential hospital equipment. "Many patients lose their lives due to the lack of adequate medical services and the shortage of beds, particularly in intensive care units," Dr. al-Jabri told Anadolu on Monday, Nov. 18. He further emphasized that the destruction of healthcare infrastructure, including hospitals and the Ministry of Health, has contributed to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. The situation is further complicated by a lack of fuel to operate hospitals and medical facilities. Due to these shortages, many essential surgeries cannot be carried out, and critical care, particularly in intensive care units, is unavailable.(Footage by Hassan Jedi/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)