ICU patients’ lives at risk in Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Hospital amid Israel’s war
Al Jazeera
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza faces a critical emergency as its main generators fail, leaving the facility reliant on unreliable backup systems. With limited fuel and spare parts, the hospital may soon be forced to ration electricity, prioritizing care for critically ill patients in the ICU. This situation underscores the devastating impact of Israel’s ongoing conflict on Gaza’s healthcare system, which has seen over 1,700 medical workers killed since the war began. The UN has accused Israel of deliberately targeting health facilities and personnel, further exacerbating the crisis.
The broader context reveals that Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure is collapsing under the strain of continuous attacks and blockades. Nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed since the October ceasefire, despite a US-backed truce aimed at reducing violence. The flow of medical aid and humanitarian assistance remains restricted, leaving hospitals with severe shortages of fuel, medication, and equipment. This lack of resources has forced healthcare workers to operate under extreme conditions, with many facilities damaged or destroyed.
Al-Aqsa Hospital’s struggle is emblematic of the wider crisis. Its generators are essential for powering life-saving machinery like ventilators and incubators, but their failure leaves patients’ lives in jeopardy. The hospital’s backup systems are described as “completely unreliable,” and their shutdown could lead to a catastrophic collapse of critical care services. This dire situation highlights the broader humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza, where 72,000 Palestinians have been killed and 171,000 injured since October 2023.
This crisis matters globally as it reflects the human cost of prolonged conflict and the deliberate targeting of healthcare systems. The international community must pay attention to the suffering of civilians in Gaza and demand accountability for the destruction of medical facilities and personnel. Without urgent intervention, the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system will continue to endanger countless lives, deepening an already critical health emergency.
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/14/2026