Gaza Health Ministry accuses Israel of 'misleading claims' targeting remaining hospitals

Gaza's Health Ministry has accused Israel of promoting what it called “misleading claims” aimed at the territory's remaining healthcare infrastructure, according to a ministry spokesman.

Renewed allegations over hospitals

The spokesman said the ministry anticipates renewed Israeli allegations concerning weapons allegedly stored inside hospitals, a claim Israel has made at multiple points during the war regarding various medical facilities in Gaza. The ministry's statement comes as Gaza marks three years since the start of the war that began in October 2023.

The ministry did not provide further details in the material reviewed for this report beyond warning that such claims target what remains of the healthcare system operating in the territory after years of conflict.

Independent verification limited

Claims made by both the Gaza Health Ministry and Israeli authorities regarding the use of hospitals during the conflict have been difficult for independent observers to verify throughout the war, given restricted access to the territory for international media and monitoring bodies. This report reflects statements attributed to the Gaza Health Ministry spokesman and does not include an independent Israeli response.

Healthcare facilities in Gaza have been repeatedly affected by the conflict, with many hospitals reporting damage, equipment shortages and strain on remaining medical staff as the war has continued.

Three years since the war began

The statement was issued around the third anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza. The conflict has had a lasting impact on healthcare access across the territory, according to humanitarian organizations that have monitored conditions there.