The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated on Saturday that the national health system is undergoing the most critical and dangerous period in its history, as Israel’s ongoing genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continues alongside escalating attacks by Israeli forces and illegal paramilitary colonizers across the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem.
The Ministry said the crisis is further compounded by the severe financial blockade resulting from Israel’s continued seizure of Palestinian tax revenues, which has directly undermined the sector’s ability to meet the rapidly increasing needs of patients and the wounded.
In its statement, the Ministry stressed that the health system in the Gaza Strip is operating under “exceptionally harsh humanitarian and medical conditions,” with hospitals and clinics repeatedly targeted and suffering from acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, equipment, and fuel.
These shortages, it warned, threaten the ability of medical facilities to continue providing life‑saving services and have intensified the suffering of thousands of patients and wounded individuals.
The Ministry renewed its urgent appeal to the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, humanitarian agencies, and all states with influence to uphold their legal and humanitarian responsibilities.
It called for immediate and sustained pressure on Israel to allow the entry of medicines, medical supplies, fuel, and humanitarian aid into Gaza, and to open safe humanitarian corridors that ensure the unhindered movement of medical supplies, patients, and the wounded.
The Ministry emphasized that protecting medical facilities and personnel is an obligation under international humanitarian law.
Minister of Health Majed Abu Ramadan said that safeguarding the Palestinian health system is “not solely a Palestinian concern, but a legal and moral responsibility of the international community.”
He added that the continued denial of treatment for patients, the obstruction of medical supply deliveries, and the targeting of medical facilities and personnel constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law and require urgent action that moves beyond statements of condemnation toward concrete and effective measures.
The Ministry commended the medical, nursing, emergency, and administrative teams in Gaza, describing their work as an exceptional model of resilience, dedication, and professional and humanitarian commitment.
It noted that many have lost family members, endured displacement, survived direct targeting, and seen their homes destroyed, yet continue to carry out their duties despite lacking basic necessities.
Minister Abu Ramadan said Gaza’s medical staff have demonstrated that the mission of doctors, nurses, paramedics, and health workers transcends all circumstances, and that their commitment cannot be broken by war or hardship. He said their sacrifices are a source of deep pride for the Ministry and for all Palestinians.
The Ministry also expressed full support for Palestinian medical professionals who were forced to leave Gaza to protect their lives and the lives of their families, or to continue their academic and professional paths under conditions imposed by the war.
It stressed that these professionals remain an integral part of the Palestinian health system, and that their departure was not a choice but a direct consequence of extraordinary circumstances.
The Ministry noted that medical teams in the occupied West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem, continue to fulfill their national and professional duties despite escalating Israeli attacks, repeated invasions, and the obstruction of ambulance movement, in addition to challenges caused by the financial crisis.
Despite these pressures, health workers continue to provide services responsibly, demonstrating daily that the humanitarian mission remains stronger than all obstacles.
The Ministry affirmed its commitment to doing everything necessary to ensure the continuity of health services, efficiently managing available resources, and strengthening the resilience of the health system.
It said it continues, in coordination with the government, international partners, and local communities, to mobilize political, financial, and humanitarian support, work to break the siege imposed on Gaza’s health sector, and mitigate the impact of the financial blockade facing the Palestinian government to ensure uninterrupted health services for citizens.
Minister Abu Ramadan concluded with a message to health workers: “You are the symbol of resilience and the first line of defense for the lives of our people. To every doctor, nurse, paramedic, technician, and administrator—whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or forced abroad by war—the Ministry of Health values your sacrifices, trusts your dedication, and honors all that you have given and continue to give for Palestine and its people. The Palestinian people will remain at the center of our mission, and protecting their right to treatment will remain our foremost responsibility, regardless of the challenges.”
