Medical personnel in Gaza are experiencing significant psychological distress as a result of the prolonged conflict that began in October 2023. Healthcare workers have endured multiple compounding traumas, including the loss of family members, colleagues, and friends, alongside the demands of treating casualties in overwhelmed hospital systems.
Individual cases illustrate the personal toll on medical staff. An anaesthesiologist discovered his brother among critically injured patients in the operating room, an experience that prompted him to leave his profession and withdraw from social activities. A nurse lost his wife, children, mother and siblings in an air strike and subsequently struggled to perform his duties, though he later returned to work after seeking psychological recovery. Another nurse witnessed her brother’s death at her workplace, an experience that created lasting difficulty in performing her job in the same environment.
Data on the broader impact reveals systemic challenges within Gaza’s healthcare system. According to the Government Media Office, at least 1,700 medical personnel have been killed in attacks, while 83 healthcare workers remain in detention. Research indicates that 41 percent of healthcare workers reported losing family members, and 46 percent experienced both bereavement and workplace displacement. Most significantly, at least 78 percent of healthcare workers in Gaza lack access to mental health services despite experiencing trauma.
The combination of personal grief, professional demands, and inadequate psychological support has contributed to staff departures from the healthcare sector. Officials acknowledge a “loss of human resources” and diminished healthcare capacity as experienced personnel leave their positions. The shortage of replacement staff compounds the problem, as remaining workers face continuous pressure without adequate recovery time.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health director general emphasized that protecting medical personnel requires more than supplies and equipment—it necessitates mental health support and rest periods. The absence of such support leaves healthcare workers caught between their professional obligations and their personal suffering, with long-term consequences for both individual well-being and the functioning of Gaza’s healthcare system.
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