Israeli authorities have imposed restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into Gaza. According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), these restrictions have led to critical shortages in hospitals and clinics. MSF has not brought any supplies into Gaza since January 1, 2026.
As reported by Randa Abu El-Khair Masoud of Doctors Without Borders, “Every day, in our hospitals and clinics, we see the impacts of the restrictions on the entry of medical supplies into Gaza.”
The needs in Gaza remain massive, yet aid entry is insufficient due to these blocks. Trucks with food and medicine wait just outside Gaza but cannot enter.
What Are the Impacts?
Nearly 50 percent of essential medications for non-communicable diseases are at critically low levels. These include treatments for diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses.
MSF has stopped admitting new patients to its non-communicable disease programs. Care is now limited to existing patients only.
According to Randa Abu El-Khair Masoud of Doctors Without Borders, these shortages jeopardize essential care and will lead to preventable deaths among chronic disease patients.
Supporting Details
Facilities face shortages of dressing materials like gauze and compresses. This affects wound care, post-operative treatment, surgeries, and trauma cases, including burns.
At the MSF hospital in Deir Al-Balah, over 100 patients require dressings daily in the outpatient department. Up to 30 burn patients are admitted each day.
Teams have resorted to sterilizing non-sterile gauze in batches during past blockades. They are nearing this point again, increasing infection risks.
Medical equipment strains persist with no new entries since early 2026. A recent surgery on a two-year-old child was delayed when the only bone drill malfunctioned.
What Lies Ahead?
Malfunctioning equipment without spare parts leads to postponed surgeries. This can worsen patient recovery or cause disabilities.
MSF teams operate under immense strain using last-resort measures. As stated by Randa Abu El-Khair Masoud of Doctors Without Borders, “Our teams’ dedication and last-resort solutions cannot replace a stable and unhindered entry of supplies.”
Unhindered access to medical supplies and equipment is urgently needed to sustain care. MSF calls for supplies to enter Gaza immediately.
Israeli restrictions continue to block vital medical supplies into Gaza, resulting in critical shortages of NCD medications, dressings, and equipment as reported by MSF. Operations at facilities like the Deir Al-Balah hospital face daily impacts, with patient care limited and risks of preventable deaths rising.
