The transfer of hundreds of pallets of extensive medical equipment into the Gaza Strip for a Red Cross field hospital has been completed, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced Thursday.
Under the project, which was approved and coordinated by COGAT, dozens of trucks entered Gaza carrying a variety of equipment, including advanced medical systems, laboratory and treatment room equipment, ventilator support equipment, generators for ongoing operation, medications, hospitalization infrastructure, as well as tents and dozens of new beds.
“Together, these significantly expand the hospital’s capacity,” COGAT said in a statement.
The agency said the initiative is intended to significantly enhance the hospital’s capabilities, increasing both treatment and hospitalization capacity while improving access to advanced care in areas such as emergency medicine, surgery and maternity services.
It added that the delivery of the equipment represents a major effort to reinforce Gaza’s healthcare system.
Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the terms
“The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to operate alongside the [Civil Military Coordination Center], in cooperation with the UN and approved international organizations, in order to allow and facilitate medical response for the residents of the Gaza Strip,” COGAT added.
An injured child is treated at Nasser Hospital, following an Israeli military strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, February 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Last week, Israel’s COGAT liaison to the Palestinians said it had approved the project to improve the field hospital.
“The advancement of this project demonstrates that even complex and sensitive equipment can enter the Gaza Strip through close and responsible coordination,” COGAT said at the time, vowing to “continue to work together with the [US-led] CMCC and lead humanitarian efforts, in accordance with international law, to allow and facilitate the medical response in the Gaza Strip.”
According to a recent report by the World Bank, United Nations and European Union, Gaza’s medical system — already strained before the war by shortages of equipment and specialization — was severely damaged amid the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, onslaught and remains far from recovery.
During the war, Israel accused Hamas combatants of hiding command centers inside and beneath hospitals, but said the army took measures to minimize harm to civilians when operating in or near medical facilities.
According to the report, fewer than half of hospitals and less than 38 percent of primary healthcare centers are even partially functional today.
A field hospital, the 15th opened since the beginning of the war, in the Gaza Strip, in an image published on November 28, 2025. (COGAT)
As of September 2025, at least 41,844 Gazans are estimated to be living with conflict-related, life-altering injuries requiring long-term rehabilitation, according to data collected by the World Health Organization, which includes information gathered by medical teams in the Strip and from Hamas-run health authorities.
Rebuilding the health system is estimated at a cost of $10.03 billion in the report.
Which gorgeous bird do you prefer?
THIS MONTH ONLY: Join our reader support group for as little as $6/month and receive an exclusive tote bag featuring one of Israel’s native birds.
Choose between the Duchifat (orange), Israel’s national bird, or the Shaldag (blue), a beloved symbol of the Israeli landscape.
As a member of the Times of Israel Community, you’ll also enjoy:
- An ad-free experience of our site and podcasts.
- Exclusive access to award-winning films via DocuNation.
- Weekly letters from founding editor David Horovitz.
Join ToI Community & claim my bag
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You appreciate our wartime journalism
You clearly find our careful reporting of the Iran war valuable, at a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically during this ongoing conflict.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this