Gaza’s deadly health crisis: rats, sewage and the spread of diseases

The following is a post on X by Palestinian journalist Tamer Nahed, pleading with the world for help as a deadly health crisis engulfs Gaza. This is deliberately engineered by the Israelis, who won’t allow in any equipment to repair or re-establish water supplies or sewage services, or equipment to clear the mountains of toxic waste that have built up, or temporary homes to replace the worn-out makeshift tents that provide no protections from an increase in rats and other vermin. They also won’t allow in cleansing products, disinfectant, or most of the medical supplies that are needed.

It’s all intentional, and, as I’ll be writing soon, is because of a conspiracy, with Donald Trump’s so-called “board of Peace”, to do nothing to alleviate the suffering of the people unless Hamas agrees to full disarmament — which it can’t do because it would be suicidal.

For now, please read Tamer’s urgent message below:

I don’t know if anyone will care about what I am saying, but the outside world must know exactly what is happening here … not later, but now.

What we are experiencing in Gaza has gone beyond the limits of human endurance. The camps have turned into a terrifying hotspot for the spread of diseases. With the beginning of summer and thousands of families crowded into extremely tight spaces next to garbage dumps, illness is spreading rapidly, as if it has become part of daily life. There is also an incomprehensible media silence regarding the scale of this growing health catastrophe, despite repeated warnings from medical teams and field workers.

Skin diseases, infections, and contagious illnesses are spreading widely, especially among children, in an environment that lacks the most basic conditions of hygiene or treatment. Rats are everywhere between the tents, insects are spreading heavily and causing continuous injuries, and there are no means of control such as poisons or pesticides. My nieces are part of this reality … their bodies are covered in painful bites that worsen every day without effective treatment.

The situation is collapsing with no real solutions. Medicines are scarce, disinfectants are almost nonexistent, and unsafe water is contributing directly to the spread of disease, while the healthcare system is beyond its capacity.

As of now, cases are estimated at around 160,000 people and still increasing, most of them children. This is not an exaggeration … it is a complete health collapse inside the camps.