Ankara: Kuwait Specialty Hospital in the Gaza Strip announced on Thursday that it will halt most of its health services starting Sunday, restricting operations to critical emergency cases due to a cessation of fuel supplies essential for maintaining the facility's operations.
According to Anadolu Agency, the hospital's administration declared the decision following an official notification from the World Health Organization (WHO) about the impending halt in fuel supplies. The suspension will affect surgeries, deliveries, outpatient clinics, treatment procedures, radiology, laboratory services, ambulance operations, and patient transportation.
The hospital will also suspend services at its dental center, vascular and diabetic foot center, and advanced wound care services. Operations will be concentrated in the general emergency and obstetric emergency departments to accommodate only critical cases. This reduction in services is expected to leave thousands of Palestinians without access to necessary medical treatment and basic healthcare daily.
The hospital attributed the decision to a worsening crisis marked by shortages of medicines, medical consumables, oil, spare parts, tires, and fuel, which threatens the operation of electricity generators, ambulances, and medical transport vehicles. The administration is appealing to the international community and international health organizations, particularly the WHO and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for intervention to avert further deterioration of Gaza's health system.
Munir al-Bursh, Director General of the Gaza Health Ministry, mentioned that the WHO decided to cease diesel supplies to over 20 hospitals and health centers in the enclave starting September 19 due to funding shortfalls. The fuel crisis is compounded by shortages of oil and spare parts vital for operating hospital generators, as some have already ceased functioning due to a lack of operational resources.
Generators are crucial for supplying power to Gaza hospitals, especially during the ongoing power outage across the enclave since Israel's genocidal war in October 2023. The Gaza authorities have stated that fuel and spare part shortages are hindering generator operations and maintenance due to Israel's closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing since October 2023 and the army's control of the Rafah crossing with Egypt since May 2024, limiting the entry of essential supplies.
The Gaza Government Media Office has criticized Israel for not fulfilling its obligations under a ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025, concerning the entry of agreed quantities of aid and fuel necessary for vital sectors. Since October 8, 2023, Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians and injured over 174,000 others during its genocide in Gaza, leading to the destruction of approximately 90% of the enclave's infrastructure.
Source: Anadolu Agency