Combating infections under siege: Healthcare challenges amidst the military assault in Gaza

Abstract

AbstractThe ongoing Israeli military assault on Gaza has caused a devastating collapse of healthcare infrastructure, resulting in an unprecedented surge in infectious diseases. The destruction of sanitation systems, restrictions on medical supplies, and displacement of civilians have created an environment conducive to the rapid spread of waterborne, vector‐borne, and antibiotic‐resistant infections. This paper draws from the insights of local Palestinian healthcare workers and recent medical missions conducted by FAJR Scientific, the Palestine American Medical Association, and Doctors Without Borders, examining infection control efforts under extreme constraints. The missions encountered major challenges, such as the absence of sterile equipment, inadequate access to clean water, and disrupted healthcare services. These conditions have exacerbated the spread of diseases such as hepatitis, meningitis, and polio, with severe impacts on Gaza's pediatric population. Efforts to implement infection control measures, such as telemedicine consultations, wound care protocols, and antibiotic stewardship, were heavily impeded by the ongoing blockade. The paper underscores the critical importance of lifting the siege to allow humanitarian access and to address the root causes of the infectious disease crisis in Gaza. It also highlights the resilience of Palestinian healthcare workers who continue to provide care under these dire circumstances. The recommendations outlined aim to support future medical teams working in conflict zones by providing practical strategies for infection prevention and control amidst such sustained violence. These efforts are contingent on international intervention and an end to the systematic blockade that has weaponized healthcare access.