Mon Jan 20 14:53:22 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Hospitals in Ruins After 15-Month War, Half Partially Operational: WHO
**GAZA CITY** – A fragile ceasefire has brought a temporary end to 15 months of intense conflict in Gaza, but the devastation to the territory’s healthcare system is immense, leaving the population facing a critical health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported Monday that only half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, highlighting the scale of the destruction wrought by the Israeli attacks.
Dr. Jamal Salaha, a general practitioner at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, described the overwhelming strain on medical facilities during the conflict. He worked relentlessly for 471 days, often performing surgeries on the floor due to lack of resources, including essential supplies like gloves and ventilators. The ceasefire, he said, provided the first moment of quiet in over a year, allowing the emergency room to be empty for the first time.
However, the relief is tempered by the catastrophic damage to the health infrastructure. Nearly all hospitals sustained damage, and a mere 38 percent of primary healthcare centers remain functional. At the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, medical worker Mohammad Nemnem described the facility as completely unusable after being “burned and destroyed” by Israeli forces.
The war claimed the lives of over 47,000 Palestinians and injured more than 111,000, placing an enormous burden on the already strained healthcare system. While the ceasefire is largely holding, isolated incidents of violence have continued, with reports of injuries in Rafah. The WHO emphasizes the urgent need for medical supplies and extensive rebuilding efforts to address the ongoing health crisis in Gaza. Dr. Salaha cautioned against premature optimism, warning that the ceasefire, while bringing respite, does not equate to a return to normalcy. The long road to recovery for Gaza’s healthcare system has only just begun.
First Piper 