The ongoing escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip has placed immense strain on the health care system, leading to a severe shortage of critical medical services. The blockade of more than 80 days, started from 2 March 2025, on the entry of all goods, including medical supplies, has further disrupted health service delivery and put people’s health at serious risk.
Since December 2023, with support from WHO, the national and international Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) have played a vital role in the health response, delivering high-quality care despite operating in extremely constrained and insecure environments.
Since the resumption of hostilities on 18 March 2025, EMTs have faced major challenges — including blockade on entrance of medical supplies, denial of EMT staff entry into the Gaza Strip, and serious obstacles to safe movement. After 11 weeks of full aid blockade, what has been allowed to enter into Gaza is a drop in the ocean. That trickle must become a lifeline without delay