How Israel 'Deliberately' Destroyed Gaza’s Healthcare System: A 2026 Crisis Report

 The 'De-healthification' of Gaza: A Systematic Collapse Amidst a Fragile Ceasefire

As of February 4, 2026, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached a staggering new low. Despite a U.S.-brokered "ceasefire" active since October 2025, the territory's healthcare infrastructure remains in ruins, suffering from what experts call a "deliberate and methodical" dismantling.

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The Human Cost: Statistics of a Dying System

The impact on patients with chronic illnesses has been catastrophic. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the numbers paint a chilling picture:

• Kidney Patients: Before October 2023, there were 1,244 dialysis patients. Today, only 622 remain. Hundreds have died not from direct strikes, but from the lack of access to dialysis services.

• Chronic Illnesses: There are 350,000 patients with long-term conditions (hypertension, diabetes, etc.). Currently, there is a 62% deficit in essential medications for these patients.

• General Medication Shortage: The overall deficit in medical supplies has hit a record 52%, a rate higher than during the peak of active bombardment.

The Physical Destruction: Hospitals in Ruins

The physical landscape of Gaza's healthcare is almost non-existent. The Government Media Office reports:

• 22 Hospitals have been put completely out of service.

• 211 Ambulances have been damaged or destroyed.

• Northern Gaza: Currently has zero functioning hospitals. Residents must walk several kilometers to Gaza City to reach Al-Shifa or Al-Ahli hospitals for basic emergencies.

Expert Analysis: 'De-healthification' as a Tool of Displacement

Public health experts, including Yara Asi and Layth Malhis, argue that the targeting of hospitals is a strategic move to render Gaza "unliveable". This "de-healthification" serves two purposes:

1. Displacement: Without hospitals, people are forced to flee their neighborhoods to find safety and care.

2. Breaking Resilience: Medical workers are viewed as symbols of social stability; removing them weakens the community's will to remain on their land.

The Resilience: Rebuilding from the Ashes

Despite the squalor and lack of equipment, local efforts are underway to restore basic services:

• Open-Heart Surgeries: Recently resumed at Al-Quds Hospital for the first time since the war began.

• Childbirth Services: Now activated at 19 medical centers across the Strip using humble resources.

• Vaccination Campaigns: Ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of polio and other infectious diseases among displaced populations

Source:Internet