Amid the rubble of the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, Murad Haji, 50, sat quietly in the dentist's chair, clutching his jaw, hoping for some relief from the pain that had tormented him for months. He was quoted treatment at about 400 shekels ($142) – an amount that could feed his children for four or five days given soaring food prices. As the pain spread from his tooth to his entire jaw, Haji was forced to seek the clinic. “I can’t stand it anymore… but I know the cost of treatment is beyond my means. 400 shekels is too much… My children need that money more,” he said.
Dentist Liza Hassouna said Israel’s siege has caused a severe shortage of dental materials, driving up treatment costs to exorbitant levels. “Many patients only come to us when the infection has become significantly worse, because they couldn’t afford treatment earlier. By then, what should have been a simple procedure becomes much more complicated, painful, and expensive.” Haji’s case is typical: a straightforward two-day treatment turned into a costly surgery, with a swollen face, inflamed tooth, and pus buildup. Many patients resort to painkillers or live with the pain until it becomes unbearable.
Dr. Nidal al-Sindi, who runs the clinic, also faces a daily battle between professional duty and operational viability. Rent, medical supplies, and equipment costs have skyrocketed. For instance, a box of anesthetic rose from 150 shekels ($53) to 500 shekels ($178); Zeta Plus impression material jumped from 150 shekels to 5,000–6,000 shekels ($1,778–$2,133). Before the war, a simple tooth extraction cost 30–150 shekels ($11–$53), and a surgical extraction 100–300 shekels ($36–$107), but all have increased significantly now. “The hardest part is seeing patients leave the clinic still in pain because they don’t have enough money for treatment, while we are also struggling with severe shortages and extremely high operating costs,” al-Sindi said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 84% of health facilities in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since October 2023. The attacks and siege have wrecked or damaged 1,800 health facilities. Many dental clinics are forced to operate in makeshift tents or minimal spaces, lacking sterilization equipment, and are the only option for most people. The dental sector’s troubles reflect the comprehensive crisis in Gaza’s healthcare system, where essential procedures are often delayed or abandoned.
