Health and environmental impacts of Gaza conflict (2023-2024): A review

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The war in Gaza, which erupted on October 7, 2023, unleashed unprecedented assaults from the air, sea, and land, affecting the densely populated area of 360 square kilometers housing 2.3 million people. The conflict claimed over 36 000 Palestinian lives, with women and children making up 70% of the casualties, and resulted in more than 80 000 injuries. The devastation was extensive, with over 70% of homes destroyed, along with six universities, numerous hospitals, communication networks, sewage systems, water desalination plants, roads, wells, and other essential infrastructure. Over a million people were displaced from the northern regions to the southern coastal area of Al-Mawasi, which constitutes less than 3% of Gaza's total area, facing dire shortages of water, healthcare, food, and medicine. The collapse of sewage networks and garbage accumulation led to an increase in flies, mosquitoes, insects, and rodents, contributing to the spread of infectious and non-communicable diseases among the displaced population. This research aimed to study the health and environmental impacts of the war in Gaza through data collection, field visits, and photographic documentation. The findings revealed catastrophic conditions, with the destruction of all infrastructure, including buildings, hospitals, universities, mosques, churches, sanitation, water networks, and communications, and the spread of diseases such as intestinal, respiratory infections, and skin infections due to the complete lack of basic life necessities.