Gaza health sector nears collapse as strikes hit refugee camps and Gaza City
A fatal air strike on a motorcycle in Gaza City and attacks on central refugee camps underscore the strain on a health system officials warn is on the verge of total collapse.
An Israeli air strike on a motorcycle in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, west of Gaza City, killed one Palestinian and injured several others, with one child reported to be in critical condition. The incident, reported by the Palestinian Wafa news agency, occurred on Friday and highlights the continued volatility in the enclave despite a ceasefire announced in October 2025.
On the same day, Israeli forces opened fire in the Nuseirat and al-Bureij refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip. The attacks targeted tents sheltering displaced people, resulting in multiple injuries. These strikes add to a pattern of violence that has claimed at least 1,381 lives since the ceasefire took effect.
The broader humanitarian context remains severe. Since the conflict began in October 2023, at least 73,795 people have been killed and 174,869 wounded. UNICEF reported last month that, on average, one child is killed a day. Families are currently confined to approximately one-third of the enclave, sheltering among destroyed buildings, rubble and uncleared waste.
The strain on infrastructure is compounded by a recent structural failure. On Wednesday, a previously damaged building collapsed in Gaza City, killing at least 21 people, including 12 children. The Palestinian Civil Defence agency struggled to recover bodies from under the rubble due to severe restrictions on heavy equipment.
Gaza’s Health Ministry warned on Wednesday that the sector is on the verge of “total collapse.” Officials attribute this precarious state to the continued limitation of medical aid and fuel permitted to enter the enclave. The warning suggests that without increased logistical support, the capacity to treat the injured from recent strikes may be insufficient.
Earlier this week, an Israeli “double-tap” air strike in Gaza City killed a paramedic and a 15-year-old schoolboy. Israeli forces claimed they were targeting Hamas operatives. The cumulative effect of these incidents indicates that governance and survival in the region remain heavily dependent on the flow of external resources and the frequency of military operations.
