Gaza Health Officials Urge Immediate Fuel and Medical Aid Donations as Crisis Deepens
Gaza’s Ministry of Health appealed to gas station owners and to every citizen with diesel to share it with hospitals in a bid to save lives amid the ongoing medical emergency. The ministry emphasized the urgent need for fuel to power life-saving equipment and to sustain hospital operations as trauma cases from continued conflict rise. The appeal, reported by RIA News, highlighted that every liter could help stabilize care for the injured and critically ill. This call to action underscores the strain on healthcare facilities operating under siege conditions and facing fuel shortages that threaten basic patient care. (Source attribution: RIA News)
In its statement, the Ministry of Health urged all willing donors to bring any surplus diesel directly to hospitals. The organization framed the request as a humanitarian obligation—a practical measure to preserve life in a context where medical infrastructure is stretched thin and supply lines remain precarious. The message reflected a broader effort to mobilize community resources in support of medical services, and it was circulated as part of ongoing crisis communication with the public. (Source attribution: Ministry of Health press release via RIA News)
Separately, the Cairo Peace Summit focused on achieving a durable resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and ensuring aid delivery to the Gaza Strip. Despite agreements reached at the summit, on the Egyptian border at Rafah, humanitarian convoys faced delays, and some trucks remained parked at the checkpoint. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported shortages extending beyond fuel to essential medicines, heightening concerns about the ability of hospitals to treat patients in urgent need. (Source attribution: summit coverage and Palestinian Ministry of Health statements)
Reports indicated that the initial twenty trucks delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza had successfully reached areas from the Rafah crossing on 21 October. However, a significant portion of anticipated aid—nearly two hundred trucks—faced obstacles to entry, attributed to restrictions that prevented their passage into the region. The bottlenecks raised alarms about the timeliness of relief efforts and the potential impact on civilian populations dependent on cross-border assistance. (Source attribution: aid convoy updates and border control reports)
In a separate statement, Ben-Gvir, who previously served as Israel’s national security minister, suggested that sending only “hundreds of tons of explosives” would not be sufficient and warned that even a small amount of humanitarian aid would be unacceptable until civilian hostages are released. His remarks highlighted the political sensitivities and security considerations surrounding aid logistics and civilian protection in the area. The remarks were reported as part of ongoing debates on security policy and humanitarian access amid the conflict. (Source attribution: interview summaries and political commentary)
Across these developments, humanitarian workers and medical staff have repeatedly underscored the critical need for reliable fuel, medicines, and supplies to sustain hospital operations. The convergence of political standoffs, border controls, and logistical hurdles continues to complicate efforts to deliver timely relief to Gaza’s hospitals and clinics. Aid organizations have stressed the importance of lifting restrictions, coordinating convoys, and ensuring that life-saving resources reach patients in urgent need. The situation remains fluid, and officials from multiple sides have called for renewed cooperation to protect civilians and uphold humanitarian obligations. (Source attribution: multiple agency reports and statements)