Shifa Hospital’s interventional radiology and cardiac catheterization unit in Gaza City, which was damaged during the war, has resumed service. The unit was renovated with support from IHH’s Ankara branch.
Representatives of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Shifa Hospital’s administration and IHH attended the opening ceremony, along with tribal elders and representatives of health and civil society organizations.
New capacity to treat heart and vascular patients
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Shifa Hospital Director Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya said the unit, which was destroyed during the war, had been rebuilt. He said the interventional radiology and cardiac catheterization equipment to be used in the unit would provide important healthcare services to the people of Gaza.
Abu Salmiya said the equipment was particularly vital for patients suffering heart attacks, people with blocked blood vessels in their limbs and some cases requiring emergency medical intervention.
The Shifa Hospital director thanked IHH for supporting the project and called for continued support for the hospital so it can provide appropriate treatment to Palestinians in Gaza. He described the unit’s reopening as a beacon of hope for the people of Gaza at a time when the need for specialized healthcare services is growing.
Patients face growing difficulty leaving Gaza
Said al-Arkan, IHH’s deputy director in Gaza, said the unit had been repaired after the damage sustained by the hospital and reopened as part of the organization’s initiatives to support Gaza’s healthcare sector.
Al-Arkan said the project was particularly important because border crossings were closed and patients faced difficulties leaving Gaza for treatment. He thanked donors and the Turkish people for contributing to the renovation of the unit and supporting the healthcare sector.
Shifa Hospital’s role in healthcare
Shifa, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, provided residents with a range of medical and treatment services before the war, including surgery, dialysis and emergency care. The hospital’s buildings, units and facilities were extensively damaged during the war.
Ala al-Akluk, head of the National Gathering of Tribes and Clans in the southern areas of Palestine, said the destruction of hospitals and the loss of usable medical equipment had worsened the hardships faced by the population.
Al-Akluk said reopening the unit would ease patients’ suffering and reduce the need to leave Gaza for treatment. He called on international and humanitarian aid organizations to continue supporting Shifa Hospital.
Healthcare infrastructure needs to be rebuilt
The unit’s reopening comes after extensive damage to the healthcare sector during the war. As hospitals and healthcare facilities have lost capacity to provide specialized services, the need for medical equipment, medicines and medical supplies continues alongside efforts to rebuild healthcare institutions.
A ceasefire agreement has been in effect in the Gaza Strip since October 10, 2025. The war caused extensive destruction to the region’s healthcare system and infrastructure.
