The director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, has raised alarm over a "real disaster" threatening the healthcare sector caused by fuel shortages that have led to the stoppage of electricity generators, which are the only vital power source for hospitals. He expressed that if the generators cease functioning, hospitals would turn into "places of death and not healing," emphasizing the critical nature of their operation for patient care.

Since October 7, 2023, the generators have been running continuously without any alternative sources of electricity, compounded by bans on the entry of fuel supplies and spare parts necessary for maintenance. Dr. Abu Salmiya pointed out that hospitals, including the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, face imminent threats of service interruptions due to generator failures and depleting fuel reserves. This situation is reflective of a broader crisis affecting all hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Shifa and Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

The complete halt of generators would result in a total shutdown of operating rooms, intensive care units, neonatal care, laboratories, blood banks, and dialysis machines, placing thousands of patients and the wounded at immediate risk. Furthermore, the region is also suffering from acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and intensive care beds, creating a dire healthcare crisis that could have catastrophic consequences for the population in Gaza.