GAZA, July 8, 2025 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced today the suspension of operations at its Al-Zaytoun medical clinic in eastern Gaza City, following Israeli shelling in the surrounding area that endangered the lives of medical teams and patients.
In a statement, the Red Crescent said:
"The Al-Zaytoun Clinic has been forced to cease operations after several shells fell nearby, putting the safety of staff and patients at severe risk."
The clinic had been providing vital medical services to thousands of residents and displaced persons who fled eastern Gaza following Israeli evacuation orders. Its closure now leaves countless civilians without essential healthcare, forcing many to walk long distances to access medical treatment or obtain children’s vaccinations.
The Red Crescent added that since October 7, 2023, at least 18 of its clinics in Gaza have been forced out of service due to Israeli attacks and evacuation orders.
This comes amid the near-total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare sector, already on the brink of shutting down entirely due to a critical fuel shortage, compounded by Israel's continued closure of border crossings since March.
Medical facilities are also grappling with severe shortages of medicines and supplies, while the number of casualties arriving at hospitals continues to soar.
Since March 2, Israeli authorities have tightly sealed Gaza’s border crossings, blocking the entry of much-needed fuel, aid, and supplies. Only a few dozen trucks have been permitted to enter daily, far below the 500-truck minimum required to meet the basic needs of Gaza’s population.
Israel’s ongoing aggression on Gaza, described by Palestinian officials and humanitarian organizations as a campaign of genocide, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, has left over 194,000 Palestinians dead or injured, including thousands of women and children. More than 11,000 people remain missing, while hundreds of thousands have been forcibly displaced and famine continues to claim lives, including dozens of children.
Y.S