The Crisis at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital: Healthcare Under Siege in Gaza

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah has become a critical focal point of the humanitarian crisis in the central Gaza Strip. As the only public hospital serving the middle region, the facility is struggling to provide life-saving care while facing severe infrastructure failure, overcrowding, and the direct impacts of ongoing conflict.

Overview of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital

Founded in 2001, Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital (also known as Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital) is a governmental facility managed by the Ministry of Health, UNRWA, and various NGOs. Before the current crisis, the hospital operated with 166 beds and served approximately 18,000 patients per month.

Current Operational Challenges

The hospital is currently operating under extreme constraints due to mass displacement from northern Gaza and a surge in war-related injuries. To cope with the influx of patients, the facility has had to implement several emergency adaptations:

• Repurposed Facilities: Delivery rooms and obstetrics and gynecology theaters have been converted into primary operating rooms to handle the volume of orthopedic surgeries.
• Field Infrastructure: The hospital has utilized tents for dressing wounds and established field hospitals to alleviate pressure on the main building.
• Staff Restructuring: The orthopedic department implemented a three-team 24-hour rotation system to manage mass casualties.

Critical Infrastructure Failures

The most pressing threat to patient survival is the failure of basic utilities. According to reports from Al Jazeera, both of the hospital’s main generators have ceased to function. This creates a life-threatening situation for patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who rely on electricity for:

• Ventilators
• Incubators
• Dialysis machines
• Surgical theaters

The facility currently lacks the fuel and essential spare parts required to restore these “lifelines,” leaving critically ill patients at extreme risk.

A History of Conflict and Damage

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital has a long history of being caught in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Documented incidents include:

• 2011: Reports from the Al Mezan Center for Human Rights indicated that occupation forces bombed land near the hospital.
• 2014: Tank shells hit the hospital’s intensive care unit, killing four Palestinians and injuring many others, including medical staff. This attack destroyed the hospital’s surgery and internal medicine departments.
• Current Conflict: IDF airstrikes in Deir al-Balah and surrounding areas have resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries, further straining the hospital’s capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital located?

The hospital is located in Deir al-Balah, within the Deir al-Balah Governorate of the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Why is the hospital currently overcrowded?

Overcrowding is driven by mass displacement of people from northern Gaza following evacuation orders, as well as a sharp increase in war-related injuries. This has made the hospital an epicenter for orthopedic care in the region.

What is the status of the hospital’s power supply?

The hospital’s main generators are currently non-functional due to a lack of fuel and spare parts, which endangers patients in the ICU and those requiring dialysis.

Conclusion

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital represents the broader collapse of the healthcare system in Gaza. From the repurposing of maternity wards for trauma surgery to the failure of critical power generators, the facility is struggling to maintain basic standards of care. Without urgent intervention and the provision of essential supplies, the lives of critically ill patients remain in immediate peril.