Gaza’s Hospitals Near Collapse Amid Escalating Conflict

GAZA, September 18, 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that hospitals in Gaza are on the verge of collapse as intense Israeli military operations escalate. As violence increases, access to medical supplies is obstructed, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “Hospitals, already overwhelmed, are nearing a breaking point while violence blocks access and prevents the delivery of essential supplies.”

According to reports from Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks on Thursday killed at least 25 individuals, including civilians seeking food. Since the beginning of the October 2023 offensive, more than 65,000 have died and 165,000 have been injured, mainly women and children.

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has urged the international community to ensure protection for hospitals and healthcare workers, as well as to enable safe passage for medical supplies and humanitarian aid.

Navi Pillay, former president of the International Criminal Court and a United Nations investigator, has emphasized that the conditions in Gaza resemble the 1994 Rwandan genocide. She stated that Israeli leadership’s rhetoric dehumanizes Palestinians and justifies mass killings.

A report indicated that about 250,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City since the Israeli military began issuing evacuation orders. A significant portion of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents has been displaced at least once since the onset of hostilities.

The ongoing military action has left many unable to find safe refuge, as limited areas designated as “humanitarian” by the Israeli army fail to accommodate the needs of hundreds of thousands.

Families fleeing northern Gaza face trauma and desperation, with many like Um Abed declaring a dire need for treatment for family members while lacking basic resources to relocate safely.

In recent days, additional airstrikes have killed numerous civilians, compounding the toll on an already strained healthcare system. Reports from Gaza’s Ministry of Health cited that hospitals received 79 bodies and treated 228 individuals wounded over the past 24 hours.

On the international front, a United Nations committee indicated genocidal actions are prevalent in Gaza since October 2023. A resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire is under consideration, responding to the dire humanitarian situation.