In a stark indicator of the deepening humanitarian emergency in northern Gaza, Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF) has suspended all medical operations in Gaza City. The international medical charity cited extreme danger to staff as Israeli ground forces advanced within half a mile of its clinics, leaving vital health services in the region even more precarious .
Why MSF Pulled Out: A Humanitarian Breaking Point
“We have been left with no choice but to stop our activities, as our clinics are encircled by Israeli forces,” said Jacob Granger, MSF’s emergency medical coordinator in Gaza . The withdrawal comes amid a broader collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure—already strained by 23 months of war following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
The United Nations reports that four hospitals in northern Gaza have become unusable in the past month alone. One was severely damaged by an airstrike on the first day of the renewed Israeli ground offensive. Without fuel for generators, blood supplies, or safe access for patients and staff, more facilities are expected to shut down imminently .
Icon: 🚑 Gaza’s Collapsing Medical Lifelines
- MSF clinics closed: All operations halted in Gaza City
- Hospitals out of service: 4 in northern Gaza (UN data)
- Fuel shortages: Critical for generators powering life-support systems
- Blood supply crisis: WHO warns of imminent shortages
Timeline of Gaza’s Healthcare Collapse
Oct 7, 2023: Hamas attacks Israel → Israel declares war
Nov 2023 – Aug 2025: Repeated hospital shutdowns due to bombing, siege, and supply shortages
Sept 2025: Israeli ground offensive resumes in northern Gaza
Sept 27, 2025: MSF evacuates Gaza City; UN warns of systemic medical collapse
What This Means for Civilians
Gaza City, once home to over 600,000 people, now faces a near-total void in trauma care, maternal health services, and treatment for malnutrition—especially among children. MSF had been providing critical care for severe injuries and acute malnutrition, often operating in makeshift tents after facilities were damaged.
Tarik Jasarevic, spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed that without immediate humanitarian access, “more hospitals will be forced to suspend operations in the coming days” .
| Indicator | Pre-War (2023) | Current Status (Sept 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Functional Hospitals (North Gaza) | 12 | ≤2 (partially operational) |
| MSF Medical Teams in Gaza City | 3 active clinics | 0 (fully withdrawn) |
| Fuel for Hospital Generators | Steady supply | Severely restricted; rationed |
| Child Malnutrition Cases (Severe) | Rare | Surging; MSF treated hundreds monthly |
U.S. and Global Response
While the Biden administration has repeatedly called for humanitarian pauses, U.S. military aid to Israel continues, drawing criticism from human rights groups. Meanwhile, Canadian and European MSF chapters have urged immediate ceasefire negotiations and unfettered aid access.
For North American readers, this crisis underscores the urgent need for diplomatic pressure and humanitarian support. Organizations like the Doctors Without Borders USA accept donations to fund emergency medical missions worldwide.
Learn more about global health crises in conflict zones through our [INTERNAL_LINK:global-health-in-crisis] guide.
Sources
- https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/27/world/middleeast/gaza-hospitals-doctors-without-borders.html
- https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/gaza-crisis
- https://www.unocha.org/situation-report/gaza-strip
