Gaza’s largest hospital teeters on the brink of catastrophe as a dire fuel shortage threatens to transform the Ashifa Medical Complex into a grim “graveyard.” Dr. Muhammad Abu Salame, the hospital’s director, has issued a chilling warning: critical life-saving units are set to shut down imminently due to Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has severely restricted access to essential supplies since March.
The situation is already desperate. The dialysis unit has ceased operations, leaving over 350 patients in jeopardy, while more than 100 premature babies are at risk of losing their lives. With oxygen stations on the verge of failure, the very essence of medical care is under siege. “A hospital without oxygen is no longer a hospital,” Dr. Abu Salame emphasized, painting a stark picture of the impending disaster.
The blockade has not only halted fuel but also water, medicine, and vital medical equipment from entering Gaza, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that is spiraling out of control. The lab and blood banks are on the brink of collapse, with precious blood units at risk of spoiling without proper refrigeration. “We have warned about this,” Dr. Abu Salame declared, underscoring the urgency of the situation. “Those few units will spoil, and the hospital will cease to be a place of healing.”
As the world watches, the clock is ticking for countless patients who rely on Ashifa for their survival. The international community must act swiftly to prevent this facility from becoming a tomb for the vulnerable. The stakes have never been higher—time is running out, and lives hang in the balance.