Gaza Healthcare System on Brink of Collapse as MAP Clinic Forced to Suspend Services
A critical lifeline for Palestinians in Gaza, the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) Solidarity Polyclinic, has been forced to suspend operations following new Israeli military orders for forced displacement, further accelerating the collapse of the region’s already decimated healthcare system. The orders, issued on Sunday, July 20, 2025, target nine blocks in the southwestern areas of Deir al-Balah, endangering vital humanitarian sites and obstructing the delivery of essential medical care.
The escalating crisis comes amid accusations of genocide and deliberate starvation, with UN experts and human rights organizations concluding that Israel is committing acts of extermination against the Palestinian people. The latest displacement orders prevent the transport of crucial medical equipment and supplies, compounding the suffering of a population enduring 21 months of bombardment and repeated displacement.
A Lifeline Severed
The MAP Solidarity Polyclinic served approximately 320 patients daily, providing critical care including physiotherapy and mental health services. A significant proportion of these patients are severely malnourished and have no alternative access to healthcare. The clinic’s closure represents a devastating blow to a population already facing unimaginable hardship.
“This latest forced displacement order is yet another attack on humanitarian operations and a deliberate attempt to sever the last remaining threads of Gaza’s health and aid system,” stated a senior official with MAP. “MAP now has to suspend critical services we have been providing to the Palestinian population, including a primary health clinic that serves hundreds of civilians every day. With Israel’s systematic targeting of health and aid workers, no one is safe. Not only are we prevented from carrying out our lifesaving work to support Palestinians, we are also unable to protect our own teams.”
Widespread Impact on Humanitarian Operations
The impact extends beyond the MAP clinic. Several humanitarian organizations’ offices and guesthouses have been ordered to evacuate immediately, forcing the shutdown of nine clinics, five shelters, and a vital community kitchen. A major water desalination plant, essential for providing clean water to displaced populations, is also at high risk.
The situation is exacerbated by a deliberate blockade of food entering Gaza, leaving markets empty and driving widespread malnutrition. More than 5,800 children were diagnosed with acute malnutrition in June 2025 alone, with reports of children fainting from hunger.
A Descent into Depravity
The crisis has reached a harrowing new low, with reports of newborn children dying from starvation as mothers, themselves malnourished, are unable to produce breast milk. Restrictions on the entry of life-saving baby formula are contributing to the tragedy. According to reports, Israeli forces have killed over 900 Palestinians attempting to reach food for their families.
Healthcare workers are also facing starvation and exhaustion, struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of injured and ill patients. The systematic destruction of Gaza’s health infrastructure is pushing the system to its breaking point. “
International Condemnation and Calls for Action
World leaders, particularly those in the UK, are facing mounting pressure to take decisive action. The evidence of atrocities in Gaza is undeniable, with the ongoing siege and military offensive threatening the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
“Newborn children are starving to death as mothers are unable to produce breast milk due to their own malnutrition and Israel cruelly restricts life-saving baby formula from entering Gaza. Israeli forces have stooped to new depths of depravity,” a senior official added.
Immediate and effective action is demanded to protect Palestinians and humanitarian space, lift the siege, and allow the free flow of food, water, fuel, and medical aid into Gaza. A permanent ceasefire is the crucial first step. The UK government is facing criticism for not exerting sufficient pressure on Israel, and calls are growing for an end to its complicity in what many are calling war crimes. The UK must cease being an ally to these atrocities.
