Diabetes patients in Gaza face survival battle amid war shortages

<p>In the early hours of another day of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, 20-year-old Hamza al-Ghazali, who lives in the Zeitoun neighborhood south of Gaza City, set out once again in search of an insulin pen.</p>
<p>It was not the first time he had moved between pharmacies and medical centres, looking for a dose. The effort has become a recurring part of his life since the outbreak of war in October 2023 and the tightening Israeli restrictions on the <a href="/news/2025/12/7/no-gauze-no-gloves-israels-severe-restrictions-on-medical-aid-to-gaza" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">entry of medicines</a> and medical supplies into the Gaza Strip.</p>
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<p>Hamza knows that delaying an insulin dose is potentially life-threatening. Type 1 diabetes requires strict daily treatment and continuous monitoring. However, under war and blockade conditions, managing the disease has turned into a daily, high-risk struggle.</p>
<p>Hamza recalls how his health condition was more stable before the war. He used to obtain insulin from pharmacies at prices ranging between 25 and 35 shekels ($8.5 and $12) per pen, sometimes even less.</p>










