The health sector in the Gaza Strip
has been deteriorating and civilians have suffered from continuous violations
of their right to enjoy adequate levels of physical and mental health. The total siege imposed by the Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) since mid-2007 has resulted in further deterioration of
health conditions of the approximate 1.5 million civilians in the Gaza Strip,
particularly: patients who suffer from chronic diseases, pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and wounded people. Health institutions, including hospitals and
primary health care centers, suffer from a permanent shortage in medical
supplies, such as medicines and medical equipments necessary for the treatment
of patients. In addition to the acute shortage in medical equipment, machines
and maintenance work have deteriorated due to the inability to provide spare
parts, and the health sector suffers also from the shortage of electricity, a
result of the ongoing electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip. The suffering of patients in the Gaza Strip,
who cannot obtain the necessary medical treatment abroad, has been aggravated
due to the ongoing and complete closure of border crossings designed for the
movement of the Gaza Strip’s civilian population.

The health situation has deteriorated
under the ongoing siege, which denies the entry of construction materials necessary
for the reconstruction of dozens of health facilities which were partially or
completely destroyed during the latest Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip (27
December 2008 – 18 January 2010), which took the lives of 1,419 Palestinians
and seriously wounded more than 5,300 others. The offensive also damaged 15 out of 27 hospitals, 43 out of 110 health
care centers, and 29 out of 148 ambulances in the Gaza Strip. As a result, more pressure was added on the
health sector in the Gaza Strip.

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