Gaza: Gaza's Health Ministry warned Saturday that the enclave's medical system is rapidly approaching collapse after Israeli forces destroyed a drug warehouse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, amid severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies.
According to Anadolu Agency, the ministry reported that the Israeli army destroyed two warehouses containing essential medicines and medical supplies and severely damaged two others in strikes on storage facilities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of Gaza's Health Ministry, stated that Israeli attacks were no longer limited to patients, medical staff, and hospitals but had expanded to include medicine warehouses.
"The Israeli occupation targeted the drug warehouse of the kidney department behind the outpatient building at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after prior notification, completely destroying it," Al-Bursh said. The strike exacerbates the existing crisis, with the health sector facing a 51% shortage of essential medicines and a 59% shortage of medical consumables, while 22.5% of laboratory equipment is out of service due to a lack of spare parts.
Al-Bursh described the attack as "a direct blow to what remains of the lifeline inside hospitals" and warned that it would deepen the humanitarian crisis, accelerate the collapse of the healthcare system, and deprive thousands of patients of their basic right to treatment. He emphasized that the war not only targets buildings but also medicine, treatment, and people's chance to stay alive.
He called for the protection of medicine warehouses and medical supplies in Gaza under international humanitarian law, which prohibits attacks on medical facilities and supplies designated for civilian treatment. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital remains one of the few operational government hospitals in Gaza after extensive destruction of the territory's health infrastructure during Israel's military campaign that began on October 8, 2023. The hospital has repeatedly come under Israeli attack, sustaining damage and resulting in casualties among patients and medical staff.
The latest strike comes as Israel continues its blockade of Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. Israel has failed to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10, 2025, including reopening crossings and allowing agreed levels of humanitarian, food, and medical aid into the enclave.
According to Palestinian health authorities, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 174,000 injured since October 2023, while about 90% of Gaza's civilian infrastructure has been destroyed. The United Nations estimates reconstruction costs at around $70 billion.