Gaza Civil Defense Reports Loss of 90% of Operational Capacity in War

Gaza’s Civil Defense has lost around 90% of its operational capabilities during the ongoing war, with Israel’s military operations having nearly dismantled the territory’s rescue system, according to Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza.

Bassal said the Civil Defense had been “on the front lines” throughout the conflict, stressing that no military operation or attack occurred in any area without Civil Defense crews being the first responders on the scene.

He noted that the agency suffered devastating losses during field operations, including the destruction of most of its equipment and vehicles. Around 142 members of Civil Defense teams were killed while carrying out their duties after being targeted during rescue missions, he added.

According to Al Qahera News, Bassal said Israeli forces had “almost completely destroyed” Gaza’s rescue infrastructure. He explained that Gaza City now has only two rescue vehicles remaining out of an original fleet of 15, while no vehicles remain in the northern Gaza Strip, which he described as an occupied area. In central Gaza, only five vehicles are still operational, with a similar number remaining in Khan Younis.

“These figures reflect the scale of destruction inflicted on the Civil Defense’s capabilities, with about 90% of our assets completely destroyed,” Bassal said.

He added that all emergency response equipment related to severe weather conditions, including water pumps and related tools, had been destroyed by 100%, leaving the agency with no remaining capacity to respond to flooding or storms.

Bassal also said that in the early stages of the war, from its outbreak until December 2023, the Civil Defense relied on vehicles and heavy machinery provided by partner institutions, including municipalities and the Ministry of Public Works. However, these assets — including bulldozers and excavators — were later subjected to what he described as deliberate airstrikes.

According to Bassal, any heavy machinery operating in Gaza became a direct target. He claimed that drivers were contacted by the Israeli army and warned not to operate these vehicles or carry out rescue missions to recover bodies or save the wounded.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned that failing to confront attempts to control or restrict the work of humanitarian organizations would further undermine the most fundamental humanitarian principles.