Gaza Healthcare Crisis Deepens as Fuel Shortages Threaten Hospital Generators with Imminent Shutdown

Only 19 of Gaza's 38 hospitals remain functional following damage inflicted by Israel during two years of war, and even these surviving facilities are now suspending services due to severe shortages of fuel and essential spare parts required for their generators, according to doctors and officials.

“Electrical generators are the lifeline of hospitals,” said Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza city. “Every department depends on them, and any interruption poses a serious threat to patients' lives.”

Because Gaza's electricity infrastructure was heavily damaged during the conflict, hospitals rely entirely on generators to power intensive care units, operating theatres, emergency departments, laboratories, blood banks, and critical medical equipment. Local authorities state that Israel is failing to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement established in October last year, which mandates the entry of agreed quantities of fuel and supplies for vital sectors.

“Gaza's operating hospitals require 94,000 litres of diesel each month to maintain even the minimum level of service for residents. Since the war began, hospitals have not received the full quantity needed to operate their generators in any single month,” Dr Mohammed Zaqout, director general of hospitals at Gaza's Health Ministry, told The National. He added that facilities also need about 2,500 litres of engine oil monthly for round-the-clock operations, but have recently received only a few hundred litres.

Israeli restrictions on goods entering Gaza have severely limited the supply of generators and spare parts, with some machinery classified as “dual-use” items requiring special approval due to potential civilian and military applications. Health officials report that roughly 70 per cent of hospital generators are now non-operational, placing the entire healthcare system in jeopardy.

Hospitals have attempted to mitigate the crisis by reducing non-urgent care and prioritizing electricity for critical departments, though these steps may prove insufficient. Dr Abu Salmiya noted that the generators at Al Shifa Hospital were old prior to the war and have suffered from heavy use, stating they need immediate replacement as they could fail at any moment.

Mohammed Salha, co-ordinator of the Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza, stated that generators have already stopped working at several facilities, including Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital and Jaffa Hospital in Deir Al Balah, and Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza city. At Al Ahli Hospital, the failure of the main generator halted imaging and diagnostic services, including the only functioning CAT scanner serving northern Gaza.

Adding to the pressure, Dr Zaqout announced that the World Health Organisation informed health authorities it would halt support for generator fuel and oil starting this week due to Israeli restrictions, impacting 13 hospitals and seven health centres. While no facility has completely closed, many departments have been forced to shut down, restricting services to emergency care only.

In April, the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that only 19 hospitals and about 270 of the 630 pre-war health centres remained functional. Dr Zaqout explained that while 26 hospitals were closed at various stages of the war, some later reopened through local efforts. Shortages of medical equipment, hospital beds, and treatment supplies, compounded by the loss of qualified medical personnel through evacuation, death, or detention, have further strained operations.

Remaining hospitals face overwhelming pressure treating chronic conditions alongside nearly 175,000 people injured since the war began, including over 4,800 wounded in Israeli attacks during the ceasefire. “The remaining hospitals are unable to meet the need,” Dr Zaqout said.