Gaza strip | September 24, 2025
A Tsunami of Need: Gaza’s Few Remaining Hospitals Overwhelmed by Mass Displacement
The few remaining medical facilities in central and southern Gaza are on the verge of collapse, as a “tsunami” of displaced and injured civilians fleeing intensified Israeli military operations in the north of the Palestinian territory overwhelms their capacity. Medics on the ground are describing a catastrophic situation, with critical shortages of beds, fuel, and medical supplies as they struggle to cope with a massive influx of new patients.
Headline Points
* Hospitals in central and southern Gaza are receiving an unprecedented number of patients, many of whom are injured, sick, or malnourished from the mass displacement.
* Medical staff at facilities like Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis and various field hospitals are operating far beyond their capacity, with patients being treated in corridors.
* The humanitarian crisis is compounded by the closure of numerous hospitals and health clinics in northern Gaza, including the Jordanian field hospital in Gaza City, which had been ordered to evacuate.
* International aid organizations are warning that the continued displacement and destruction of infrastructure will lead to an even greater health crisis, with a significant rise in malnutrition and disease.
* The situation is worsening as vital supplies of fuel and oxygen are running critically low, threatening to shut down essential services like intensive care and neonatal units.
The Medical System at a Breaking Point
With a new wave of Israeli military operations in northern Gaza, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee south, many of them injured, sick, or malnourished. This mass movement has placed an unbearable strain on the already crippled health system in the central and southern parts of the territory. The United Nations reports that approximately 320,000 people have complied with evacuation orders from Gaza City in recent days, many of whom are now seeking medical attention in areas that simply cannot accommodate them.
At Nasser Medical Complex, one of the few large-scale hospitals still functioning in Gaza, staff report that pediatric wards are full, with children being treated in corridors. The situation is echoed at various field hospitals, where medics are reporting a doubling, and in some cases tripling, of patient numbers. One field hospital in the “humanitarian zone” of al-Muwasi reported receiving 160 injured patients in a single night.
The Collapse of Northern Gaza’s Healthcare
The crisis is a direct consequence of the continued destruction and closure of medical facilities in northern Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reports that services have been suspended at several hospitals, including the al-Rantisi children’s hospital and the Eye hospital in Gaza City. Furthermore, the Jordanian field hospital was ordered to evacuate, forcing medical staff and over 300 patients to leave under fire.
International humanitarian organizations, such as Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), have voiced grave concerns, noting that vital medical complexes like al-Sahaba, which provides intensive care for newborns, are facing severe shortages of fuel and oxygen. Without these critical supplies, lifesaving services are at risk of a total shutdown, a scenario that would lead to an even greater loss of life.
An Unprecedented Humanitarian Catastrophe
Aid workers and international bodies are calling the situation an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies have repeatedly warned that the so-called “humanitarian zones” in southern Gaza are not equipped with the necessary services to support the huge influx of new arrivals. These areas lack the essential infrastructure for health, sanitation, and clean water, which will likely lead to a surge in preventable diseases.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and other aid organizations have called on world leaders to intervene, stating that the mass displacement is not a form of protection but rather a “forcible transfer” that violates international law. As the conflict intensifies and the health system crumbles, the people of Gaza are facing a dire choice between staying in a war zone or fleeing to areas with no shelter, no food, and no medical care.
