GAZA CITY – Field hospitals across Gaza are grappling with a severe shortage of blood amid the relentless Israeli siege, putting thousands of lives at risk. Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of Gaza’s field hospitals, told Al Jazeera that only 3,500 units of blood have been secured so far—far short of the 10,000 units urgently needed to treat the wounded.
“We are having a serious problem with the availability of blood bags,” Dr. al-Hams stated. “This is threatening the lives of patients in critical condition, especially those injured in recent bombings and airstrikes.”
With injuries mounting daily from ongoing attacks, doctors say trauma care is now dangerously compromised. Many hospitals are performing surgeries under candlelight and are forced to make difficult decisions on who receives care first due to limited resources.
Israeli Blockade Blocks Vital Medical Supplies
The already fragile healthcare system in Gaza has been pushed to the edge by the Israeli siege, which has blocked the entry of medical equipment, essential drugs — and now, even blood units.
Dr. al-Hams emphasized, “The Israeli occupation prevents the bringing in of more blood units. We are not even allowed to receive donations from our brothers in the occupied West Bank.”
The blockade, which Israel says is aimed at isolating Hamas, has instead trapped over two million civilians inside a war zone with no reliable access to basic medical aid. Gaza’s Ministry of Health has repeatedly warned that field hospitals — set up as temporary lifelines — are being crippled due to restrictions on fuel, electricity, water, and now blood.
Urgent Appeal to the West Bank and International Community
As the crisis deepens, Gaza’s medical professionals are appealing directly to Palestinian territories and the international community for immediate intervention.
“We appeal to our brothers in the West Bank to send more blood units,” Dr. al-Hams said. “If we cannot receive support quickly, we may lose more patients who could have otherwise been saved.”
However, transferring blood or medical aid from the West Bank into Gaza remains nearly impossible under current Israeli restrictions. Humanitarian agencies have called for safe corridors to be opened to facilitate the flow of medical supplies, but no meaningful progress has been made.
The World Health Organization and Red Crescent have both reported that the blockade has effectively turned Gaza into a sealed-off zone where humanitarian norms are repeatedly violated.
Hospitals Overwhelmed as Attacks Intensify
The ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza has left hospitals overwhelmed. In the past few weeks alone, thousands of people have been wounded, many with blast injuries, burns, and shrapnel wounds requiring immediate surgery and post-operative care.
Field hospitals were initially meant to serve as backup facilities. Now, they are serving as primary emergency centers, often without proper sanitation or power. The shortage of blood makes already dire conditions worse, leading to preventable deaths.
“We are not asking for luxuries — we are asking for blood to save lives,” said a volunteer nurse in Khan Younis. “Every delay means more bodies we cannot revive.”
As international calls for a ceasefire grow louder, medical teams on the ground say the damage has already been catastrophic. The blood shortage crisis is just one of many cascading failures in Gaza’s humanitarian infrastructure — a crisis, they say, that was entirely preventable.
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