Major Heart Crisis in Gaza: Severe Shortage of Supplies and Travel Ban Threaten Lives of Thousands of Patients

The risk of death for heart patients in the Gaza Strip is escalating unprecedentedly, with thousands suffering from chronic and acute diseases facing a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies. This crisis is exacerbated by the continued closure of crossings and the severe complications imposed by the occupation on the travel of urgent cases for treatment abroad, turning Gaza into a large prison lacking the most basic healthcare provisions.

In a testimony reflecting the depth of the tragedy, the family of elderly Salma Abu Nadi (78 years old) recounts the suffering of their mother, who has been bedridden for two months awaiting the availability of a pacemaker battery. The patient's daughter confirms that her mother's life now hangs on the availability of this medical component, which is missing in the Strip, noting that any further delay could lead to her death given the doctors' inability to provide alternative treatments.

On the ground, continuous military operations have led to most specialized centers for cardiac surgery and catheterization going out of service, with only one center remaining operational at Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City. This sole center faces immense pressure and a shortage of staff and equipment, making it unable to meet the growing needs of patients in the besieged Strip.

Majed Shanat, a cardiology consultant at Al-Quds Hospital, described the current health situation as 'catastrophic' by all standards, explaining that the Strip suffered from shortages before the war, but now lacks the simplest tools. Shanat pointed out that the only device currently available can only handle a very limited number of patients, not exceeding 5 cases per day, which is a tiny number compared to the volume of injuries and medical cases.

The suffering does not stop at the lack of devices but extends to delays in travel coordination procedures, as is the case with patient Mustafa Madi, who suffered cardiac arrest twice in two months. Despite the seriousness of his condition, Madi is still awaiting approval to leave the Strip, amid bureaucracy and strict security restrictions imposed by the occupation on patients and their companions.

According to data issued by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, heart diseases have become the leading cause of death in the Strip, accounting for over 56%. The ministry attributes this shocking increase to the complete cessation of operations at 5 specialized centers, the disruption of open-heart surgeries, and the complete absence of stents and essential cardiac catheterization tools.

Amid the ongoing blockade and bombardment, the Gaza Strip is witnessing what can be described as a silent humanitarian tragedy, where patients are slowly dying away from the spotlight due to the collapse of the healthcare system. Despite repeated international demands, the occupation continues to prevent the entry of life-saving medical supplies, placing the international community before a moral and legal responsibility towards thousands of threatened lives.

Heart diseases now account for more than 56% of deaths in Gaza, with specialized centers ceasing operations and essential supplies being unavailable.