Three Years Into Gaza War, Health System Left in Ruins, Report Says

Three years after the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, the territory's health system has been devastated, with more than 1,700 health workers killed in upwards of 920 attacks on medical facilities and personnel, according to figures reported by Turkey's Anadolu Agency.

The figures, attributed to health and humanitarian monitoring sources, point to a sustained toll on Gaza's medical infrastructure over the course of the conflict, which began after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

Anadolu Agency's report describes hospitals, clinics and ambulance services as having been repeatedly struck or disabled during the fighting, compounding the humanitarian crisis facing Gaza's roughly two million residents. Some Palestinian officials and international observers have described the scale of destruction and civilian casualties as amounting to genocide, a characterization Israel rejects, saying its operations target Hamas militants and infrastructure.

Independent verification of casualty figures in Gaza has been difficult throughout the war, given restricted access for international journalists and monitors. Health workers, in particular, have faced elevated risk given the frequency of strikes near or on medical facilities, according to the report.

The anniversary comes as international attention remains focused on the war's humanitarian toll and on diplomatic efforts, led at various points by the United States, Qatar and Egypt, aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza.