Palestinians under Israeli attacks struggling with diseases caused by environmental pollution

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Environmental pollution in areas located in the north of the Gaza Strip, which is under Israeli attacks, threatens the lives of displaced Palestinians, including tens of thousands of children, who are also struggling with hunger.

The health condition of Palestinians, who are not adequately nourished due to food shortages caused by Israeli restrictions on aid entries to Gaza, is worsening due to diseases spread by pollution.

The direct targeting of municipal workers by the Israeli army, who are operating in various parts of the Gaza Strip, also disrupts cleaning services.

Local and international health organizations have repeatedly warned about the spread of disease and epidemics among the displaced people due to overcrowding in shelter centers, lack of personal hygiene, as well as lack of necessary treatments.

According to the latest data from the government media office in the Gaza Strip, since the beginning of the Israeli attacks on Oct.7, 2023, nearly 71,338 cases of viral hepatitis infections have been monitored among displaced people.

Speaking to Anadolu, Gaza Municipality spokesperson Husni Muhenna said: "The accumulation of more than 100,000 tons of solid waste in Gaza City alone poses a real danger, especially to those living in various shelter centers."

He said that solid waste storage areas are spreading diseases and epidemics, especially in crowded places and various shelter centers, and contributing to the breeding of insects and rodents that accelerate the spread of infectious diseases.

Elderly Palestinian Ragde Hasaneyn also expressed concern about insects, the crowds in enclosed spaces, and the resulting spread of diseases.

“Even if we survive Israel's bombings and attacks, we cannot escape the epidemics spreading in the shelter centers due to overcrowding, having to share the same bathrooms, and the lack of cleaning supplies and water,” Hasaneyn told Anadolu.

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas.

Over 38,300 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 88,300 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nine months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz