The United Nations reports that Israeli attacks in the
ongoing Gaza war have left 21,000 Palestinian children disabled, with hundreds
of thousands more at risk of severe malnutrition and death. The conflict has
devastated Gaza’s civilian population, especially its most vulnerable, amid
warnings of a worsening humanitarian crisis.
UN highlights severe impact on disabled Palestinian children in Gaza
As reported by Ali Harb of Al Jazeera, the United Nations
has revealed that Israeli military operations during the Gaza conflict have
disabled approximately 21,000 Palestinian children, compounding an already dire
humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that 132,000 children under the age of
five are at imminent risk of death due to acute malnutrition by June 2026,
underscoring the catastrophic toll of the conflict on Gaza’s youngest
population.
The report underscores the multiple dimensions of suffering
faced by the civilian population, including children with pre-existing
disabilities who have been disproportionately affected by the ongoing violence.
Severe injuries, loss of limbs, permanent disabilities, and destruction of
healthcare infrastructure have left families struggling to provide even basic
care to disabled children.
Alarming humanitarian conditions worsen amid continuous bombardment
The report brings to light the relentless nature of Israeli
military escalations, which have not only caused physical injuries but also led
to widespread displacement and destruction of vital aid and healthcare
facilities in Gaza. As detailed by Ibrahim al-Halili for Al Jazeera, entire
families taking refuge in schools and aid centres have been subjected to deadly
airstrikes. One such strike killed multiple civilians, including children, at a
school sheltering displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza’s Jabalia al-Nazla
area.
According to medical sources quoted by Al Jazeera, the
destruction of infrastructure has crippled Gaza’s ability to support those with
disabilities, further exacerbated by a near-total blockade that deprives
civilians of essential supplies like food, medicine, and mobility aids. Several
children disabled by the fighting, including cases like nine-year-old Azmi
Aljamal who suffered severe injuries from missile strikes, now face chronic
medical needs without access to proper treatment.
UN experts warn of unfolding genocide and call for immediate intervention
United Nations human rights experts have issued a stark
warning regarding the ongoing violence, characterising it as an unfolding
genocide with the civilian population bearing the brunt of attacks. As detailed
in an official UN press release cited by Al Jazeera, the relentless bombardment
and blockade have created a humanitarian catastrophe where 70 percent of casualties
are women and children.
The experts denounced the use of starvation as a weapon of
war, the destruction of Gaza’s health infrastructure, and the systematic denial
of humanitarian aid, emphasising the criminal responsibility of those
perpetuating this suffering. Israel’s continued military operations have
resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries, and the blockade has
trapped Gaza’s population in conditions of extreme deprivation.
Incidents of deadly attacks on displaced civilians and aid seekers
Al Jazeera journalist Areeq Azzm reported from Rafah about
the deadly Israeli sniper shootings near a controversial aid centre operated by
the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the only operational food distribution
point in the area. At least 10 Palestinians were killed and 16 injured as
desperate crowds gathered for food, with Israeli forces and security
contractors reportedly opening fire on civilians seeking aid.
This has drawn condemnation for what is seen as a deliberate
strategy to inflict suffering on Palestinians attempting to survive amid worsening
food shortages. The targeting of vulnerable aid seekers highlights the dire
conditions facing Gaza’s civilians, trapped amidst continuous attacks and
severe restrictions on humanitarian access.
Cases illustrating the severe plight of disabled children in Gaza
Al Jazeera’s in-depth coverage by multiple journalists
provides personal accounts of disabled children in Gaza whose lives have been
shattered by the war. For example, the story of Reem Ayad, who lost her hand
due to an Israeli airstrike on her home, and Amina Omar, a child with cerebral
palsy whose mother lost a pregnancy under duress, illustrates the compounded
challenges faced by families in caring for children with disabilities amid
conflict.
The collapse of healthcare systems, scarcity of medical
supplies, and repeated displacement force families to live in unsafe,
undersupplied camps where mobility aids like wheelchairs are unavailable,
nutrition is inadequate, and medical care is largely inaccessible. These
individual stories paint a grim picture of the systemic neglect and devastation
wrought by the war against the most vulnerable segments of Gaza’s population.
Israel’s military strategy and warnings from officials
Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has issued stern warnings about the ongoing offensive, vowing the potential destruction of Gaza City unless Hamas complies with Israel's terms for ending the conflict. As reported by Al Jazeera, Katz tweeted ominously,
“The gates of hell will open on the heads of the murderers and rapists in Gaza”.
These statements
accompany intensified military assaults across Gaza, including airstrikes on
densely populated civilian areas and infrastructure. Such operations send a
clear indication that no place in Gaza is safe from potential attack, a message
confirmed by numerous reports of civilian casualties in schools, hospitals, and
displacement camps.
International response and call for accountability
The escalating humanitarian catastrophe has drawn widespread international condemnation and demands for accountability. The UN Human Rights Office has called for impartial investigations into the killings of aid seekers and civilians, and human rights experts have urged global actors to intervene urgently to halt further atrocities. Despite international outcry, the situation on the ground in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with persistent military attacks, tightening blockades, and growing famine threatening millions. The UN and humanitarian organisations warn that without immediate measures to protect civilians and restore aid access, many more will suffer permanent disabilities, starvation, or death.