World Disability Day in Gaza is a tragic example of the humanitarian situation in the war-torn territories. The Israeli genocide that has been going on since October 2023 has resulted in a most serious health disaster never seen before in the region.
The genocide in Gaza was not simply an armed conflict but rather a systematic campaign that created what has been described as an “epidemic of disabilities” that is going to last and affect the whole of the next generation. The Israeli forces killed thousands of Palestinians; the majority of the injured people became permanently disabled.
The kinds of disabilities include amputations, burns, paralysis, and brain injuries as well as the damage of hearing and eyesight. Another aspect of this catastrophe is that the people affected suffer from deep psychological trauma. The situation is made worse by the unavailability of medical facilities and vital supplies, turning Gaza into the largest human experience ever of the pain and suffering of people with disabilities in armed conflicts.
High rates of disability after the genocide
The latest reports from the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics indicate that the number of people with permanent disabilities had risen to about 42,000 by November 2025, double what was recorded before the war. These figures do not include the indirect consequences of hunger, homelessness, and lack of medical treatment.
Amputation was one of the most common disabilities, with more than 6,000 people losing limbs, including about 1,100 children, making Gaza the highest in the world in terms of the number of amputated children per resident. Thousands of children and young people also suffered spinal and brain injuries that led to permanent paralysis or loss of motor ability, while more than 3,300 cases of severe burning were recorded, often due to white phosphorus used in populated areas.
Psychological disabilities were no less serious, with more than 40,500 children suffering severe psychological trauma, with rates of depression and anxiety rising by 51% among children, reflecting the profound impact of war on the mental health of young people.
Statements and reports of international bodies
The crisis drew a powerful international condemnation. Philippe Lazzarini, the UN High Commissioner for Palestine Refugees, labeled Gaza situation an “epidemic of disabilities” and pointed out that the number of children being amputated in Gaza has reached the highest level ever in modern history.
WHO stated that the injured persons badly need effective and permanent rehabilitation services for a very long time. The UN Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities also reported on the children’s risks in hospitals destroyed and barring of basic services. HRW mentioned that the Israeli bombing inflicted “deep trauma and suffering” on children with thousands of them being amputated due to the use of explosives in civilian areas. Unicef reported that thousands of children had lost one or more limbs during the early months of the war, often without anesthesia, indicating the catastrophic medical situation.
These opinions are in full agreement that Gaza is now the largest place with amputee children in modern times which is nothing but a clear sign of the misery being experienced.
The nature of Israeli crimes and the use of weapons
Disabilities in Gaza are not just side effects of war, but a direct result of flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. The Israeli occupation used partially or disproportionately prohibited weapons, resulting in permanent injuries and chronic disabilities, as documented by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
white phosphorus
White phosphorus is used in densely populated urban areas, causing burns to the bone and permanent disabilities, in addition to chronic respiratory damage. More than 3,300 cases of severe burns were recorded due to these weapons, especially among children. International agreements consider the use of white phosphorus in civilian areas a partial war crime, but it has been used in the Gaza port and other areas, demonstrating the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Unguided bombs (Dumb Bombs) and heavy bombs
The Israeli military employed powerful and indiscriminate bombs, namely the Mk84 and BLU-117, with a 2,000 pounds weight, on the civilian population, thus causing severe destruction. The application of these bombs not only contributed to the amputation of thousands of limbs, but also to the incidence of spinal, brain, and burn injuries along with deformities that have numbered in hundreds.
By the end of July 2024, the total amount of explosives that had been fired reached more than 25,000 tons, which was tremendous, compared to the use of explosives in other wars, and 83% of the hospitals were in ruins which rendered rehabilitation almost impossible.
Moreover, even though they were labeled as “precision-guided”, these bombs ended up being the cause of fatalities among non-combatants, including kids, and brought about brain injuries and amputations, as in the cases of Rafah and its surroundings. The reports indicate that the use of these bombs in the raids was at a disproportionately high level, thus showing the complete disregard for civilian lives.
Heavy artillery and missiles
The 155mm heavy artillery shells, along with SPIKE and Hellfire missiles, have caused not only damage but also hearing problems for adults and children, and amputations and burns. The application of these kinds of weapons in the midst of the civilian population results in a catastrophe of such a large scale that the civilians are left at the mercy of the guns, suffering from the most severe and even incurable injuries.
Siege and starvation as a tool for disability
Along with weapons, siege and starvation caused disabilities to deteriorate. The lack of medical and food supplies caused indirect deaths while at the same time, the number of children with injuries resulting from chronic infections increased. The medical infrastructure was largely destroyed, including the shutting down of 83% of hospitals and the loss of hundreds of health workers which together resulted in no rehabilitation services being provided.
The psychological disabilities due to family loss or displacement have added another layer of suffering which in turn has perpetuated the cycle of trauma and disabilities among children and young people.
Purposeful targeting of non-combatants
Documentation from human rights organizations vindicates the assertion that the targeting was a systematic policy of genocide. The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials, meanwhile, UN inquiries point out the deliberate destruction of hospitals, cutting off food and water supplies to the population, and the precise technology which is used for targeting civilians without even a human being oversight. All these measures are, in fact, punishments imposed on the whole community and thus, they are crimes against humanity according to the international law.
Humanitarian and social impact
Gaza is, and remains, more than just plain numbers and statistics. Each victim signifies a youngster who has gone through the ordeal of amputation, his bright future erased, a mother who is experiencing the loss of her child, in addition, a young man reconstituted from the ruins and in recovery.
The international community cannot ignore these war crimes by taking a hands-off approach because they are very clear and demanding an urgent response. The situation in Gaza has reached the point where among the toughest living conditions, there are really not many prosthetic limbs available, no proper specialists’ medical care and the psychological support necessary is still lacking.
Urgent Recommendations
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is one of the physical and mental suffering and hence, it needs an immediate global response to make it more bearable for the wounded and the sick to live in. The first aids to be provided are a truce and reopening the Gaza Strip, so that medical and food supplies can be delivered to both the civilians and the wounded who are in desperate need of treatment and materials.
Moreover, there is a pressing requirement to have an international commission of inquiry established to document the violations and crimes bringing about this health catastrophe, and to purify the guilty who engaged in the usage of forbidden arms and targeting of non-combatants. This commission should carry out its work in a prominent and non-stop manner to ensure that the occupation is adhering to the standards of international law which regulate the accountability of states.
International assistance must also consist of immediate rehabilitation schemes, including provision of prosthetics for those whose limbs have been amputated, physical therapy, and psychological support for children and adults who have been experiencing psychological trauma for a long time. This step will help to reduce the misery of the population and at the same time enable them to rebuild their lives.
