MSF Warns Israeli Blockade Pushing Gaza Medical Supplies to Critical Shortage
Doctors Without Borders says it has not been able to bring any medical supplies into Gaza since January 1, warning that preventable deaths among chronic disease patients are now inevitable.
A leading humanitarian medical organization has issued a stark warning about the situation in Gaza. Doctors Without Borders, known by its French acronym MSF, says Israeli restrictions on medical supplies have reached a critical point, severely damaging health care services across the enclave.
Dr Randa Abu El Khair Masoud, a medical adviser with MSF, confirmed that the organization has been unable to bring any medical supplies into Gaza since January 1. This comes despite overwhelming humanitarian needs on the ground.
The needs in Gaza are massive, she said on Friday, but not enough aid is getting through because Israeli authorities are blocking it.
According to MSF, nearly 50 percent of essential medications for non communicable diseases are now at dangerously low levels. These include treatments for diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, and respiratory illnesses.
The shortages have already forced MSF to stop admitting new patients to its non communicable disease programs. Treatment is now limited to existing patients only.
Dr Masoud warned that this shortage in proper care will inevitably lead to preventable deaths among people suffering from chronic conditions.
Basic medical supplies like gauze and compresses are also running out. This is affecting wound care services, especially for patients recovering from surgery and for burn victims.
During a previous blockade between August and September 2025, MSF teams were forced to use non sterile gauze that had to be sterilized in batches. That measure is considered a last resort because of the high risk of infection. Dr Masoud said Gaza is now close to reaching that point again.
Medical equipment shortages are adding to the strain. No new equipment or spare parts have entered Gaza this year, leading to frequent breakdowns.
Our teams are working hard to continue providing care, but they are under immense strain, Dr Masoud said. She stressed that emergency measures cannot replace the need for consistent and reliable access to medical supplies.
Since October 2023, Israel has killed more than 72,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of them women and children. The military campaign has reduced most of the enclave to ruins and displaced the entire population.
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Source: Doctors Without Borders (MSF) statement and TRT World reporting