Gaza Health Ministry Warns WHO Diesel Cutoff Will Halt Operations at Over 20 Hospitals

September 14, 2026 - 16:45

The Gaza Health Ministry has announced that the World Health Organization plans to stop supplying diesel to more than 20 hospitals across the territory, a decision that officials warn could paralyze medical services already strained by severe fuel and oil shortages.

According to a ministry official, the cutoff is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 19. The official said the move would directly threaten the operation of hospitals that depend on diesel to run generators, ambulances, and life-saving equipment such as ventilators and incubators.

The warning comes as Gaza's health system struggles with dwindling reserves of fuel and oil, which are essential for keeping medical facilities functioning. Without a steady supply, hospitals risk losing electricity for extended periods, endangering patients in intensive care units, operating rooms, and dialysis wards.

Ministry officials described the situation as a looming catastrophe and called for immediate intervention to ensure fuel deliveries continue. They stressed that any interruption in diesel supplies would not only affect hospital operations but also emergency response services that rely on fuel to reach the wounded and sick.

The planned halt has raised alarm among medical staff, who say they have already been forced to ration fuel and postpone non-urgent procedures. With the deadline approaching, health officials are urging international organizations to reconsider the decision and prevent a full collapse of hospital services in the coming days.