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Hamza al-Ghazali, a 20‑year‑old with Type 1 diabetes in Gaza’s Zeitoun district, spends each day hunting for insulin pens while prices soar and supplies vanish under the ongoing conflict.Escalating Insulin Shortage Amid Gaza ConflictThe Israeli‑imposed restrictions on medical aid, intensified since the October 2023 war began, have choked the flow of essential medicines. Pharmacies that once stocked insulin at 25–35 shekels ($8.5–$12) per pen now charge 75–100 shekels ($25–$34). Hamza needs six to seven pens each month, forcing him to stretch each dose far beyond safe limits.Rising Costs and Patient Numbers Highlight Crisis70,000–80,000 diabetes patients in Gaza are at risk of severe complications due to insulin and test‑strip shortages, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.Approximately 2,500 children live with Type 1 diabetes, facing a “highly critical health condition,” says endocrinology specialist Dr Adli al‑Ghouti.Glucose metres cost between 250–300 shekels ($85–$120), but the real bottleneck is the scarcity of test strips, leaving over 80 percent of patients unable to monitor blood sugar regularly.Health Consequences for Gaza’s Diabetes CommunityWithout reliable insulin, patients risk both hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia. Hamza describes living “between two fears”: a bomb‑induced injury could be survivable, yet a missed insulin dose could be fatal. The lack of proper storage, frequent power outages, and the presence of expired insulin further jeopardise treatment, raising the spectre of diabetic ketoacidosis—a life‑threatening emergency.Outlook: Continued Scarcity Threatens LivesIf blockade restrictions persist, the medical disaster will deepen. Experts warn that deteriorating insulin quality and the inability to test blood glucose will drive up mortality among both adults and children. International humanitarian aid that restores a steady flow of medicines and testing supplies is essential to prevent a widening health catastrophe in the enclave.