Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital is on the brink of catastrophe as a critical fuel shortage cripples its operations, leaving countless patients in a life-or-death struggle. The largest health facility in northern Gaza has run out of fuel for its main generators, relying solely on a small backup that barely supports urgent services. With Israel blocking fuel entry into the region, the situation has reached a dire tipping point, particularly for kidney dialysis patients who are now facing a deadly wait.

The hospital’s director has sounded the alarm, revealing that hundreds of patients are at imminent risk of death as kidney dialysis machines have ground to a halt. Intensive care units are barely functioning, and staff are forced to ration the scant power that remains. Patients in urgent need of treatment are being sent home, left to grapple with the terrifying reality that missing even one session could prove fatal.

Witnesses describe al-Shifa as a grim waiting room for life and death, where the hum of medical machines has been replaced by an unsettling silence. For those suffering from kidney failure, the absence of dialysis treatment is not just an inconvenience—it’s a death sentence. One patient recounted the harrowing journey to the hospital, only to be met with the shocking news that the machines had stopped working. “The excess fluid will poison my body, and I could die,” he said, highlighting the desperation faced by those who rely on this critical care.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the plight of kidney patients in Gaza is overshadowed by the ongoing conflict. Yet, their struggle is a stark reminder that survival in this besieged territory hinges not just on escaping bombs but on the availability of basic medical care. The urgent need for fuel is not just a logistical issue; it is a matter of life and death for those who are running out of time. The world must take notice before it’s too late.