Israel's escalation of genocidal violence and apartheid policies in Gaza, particularly after October 7, 2023, has intentionally targeted health care systems as part of a strategy to annihilate Palestinian life, which has significantly degraded the lives of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. This exploratory study aimed to analyze the health crisis faced by the Palestinian health system following the recent Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The study involved thirty participants from diverse professions, including doctors, nurses, midwives, hospital administrators, paramedics, pharmacists, humanitarian workers, mothers, and other health care providers from the Gaza Strip. Thematic content analysis of the interview transcripts led to the identification of five main themes: (a) collapse of health care infrastructure; (b) loss of medical personnel and resources; (c) maternal and infant health; (d) the spread of preventable and contagious diseases; and (e) mental health challenges for health care providers and patients. Establishing political freedom, ensuring human rights, and dismantling structural inequities are essential to safeguarding health and survival in Gaza. The health crisis in Gaza is a direct result of Israel's genocidal policies, and addressing this crisis requires ensuring accountability, dismantling apartheid structures, and restoring Palestinian sovereignty.

Causes and consequences of overcrowding in emergency departments and its impact on patients' care at main governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip: a cross-sectional study.

The modern Middle East remains a region where acute local hostilities persist, from the confrontation in the Gaza Strip to instability in Yemen and Iraq. At the same time, along with traditional wars, hybrid and proxy conflicts are actively unfolding here. These forms of confrontation are particularly pronounced in the relations between Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as around the actions of the United States and its partners in Syria and the Persian Gulf in the context of rivalry between regional powers using military, information and cyber tools to achieve their goals. The article analyzes the key mechanisms of hybrid conflicts in the region, from the interaction of regular armies with paramilitary groups to the use of digital technologies and disinformation companies. Special attention is paid to the role of foreign powers, which, through the support of proxy groups, pursue their own interests, contributing to the persistence of instability and fragmentation of the region. The study is based on an analysis of the dynamics of hybrid and proxy wars in the Middle East, in particular between Iran and Saudi Arabia and Israel, as well as with the participation of the United States and its partners in Syria and the Persian Gulf. These conflicts reflect a complex interweaving of global and regional interests, where State and non-State actors use military, economic, information, and cyber tools to achieve strategic goals. The hybrid nature of such wars is transforming traditional notions of sovereignty, security, and forms of violence in the region. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the “invisible fronts” will go beyond the scope of conventional military operations to a greater extent. The information space, energy infrastructure, and networks of political and economic influence are highlighted as key areas of strategic competition. Mastering and systematically understanding the logic of the functioning of these “invisible fronts” seems to be a prerequisite for the formation of comprehensive international security strategies aimed at preventing the escalation of conflicts and ensuring the stability of the regional and global system of international relations.

Ecranomanie, Victor Morozov’s debut volume (House of Arrows, 2025) consists of a collection of essays that expand film criticism into the vast domain of contemporary visual culture. With a foreword by filmmaker Radu Jude, the volume explores how the analytical tools of film critics can illuminate the political, aesthetic and social stakes of a contemporaneity saturated by images. Written between 2022 and 2025, in the context of global crises like the large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, or the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, the essays discuss a wide range of phenomena like AI-generated imagery, televised sports, social media reels of politicians, drone footage and advertisements in a style of writing which resists both academic rigidity and the superficiality of online discourse, blending journalistic urgency with theoretical rigour. Despite its fragmentary composition, the volume remains a compelling contribution to our understanding of how images shape contemporary experience.

Background: In conflict zones like Gaza, children and vulnerable groups such as the elderly and the sick face a triple burden of malnutrition, diabetes (malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus), and poor oral health. These interconnected conditions impair well-being, while limited healthcare access, ongoing violence, and disrupted services exacerbate prevention and treatment challenges. Objective: This article investigates the combined impact of malnutrition, diabetes, and oral health deterioration among children and other vulnerable groups in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the violation of their fundamental right to health. Methods: This article relies on a comprehensive literature review, supported by reports from international organizations, field observations, and clinical insights from dental practice in Gaza. These combined sources were critically analyzed to examine the prevalence and interconnections of malnutrition, diabetes, and oral health deterioration among vulnerable children. Results: Findings reveal alarming increases in malnutrition and diabetes among children, alongside worsening oral health. The collapse of healthcare infrastructure and absence of preventive programs intensify these problems, disproportionately affecting children and vulnerable populations. Conclusion: These compounded health burdens constitute a clear violation of the universal human right to health. Urgent, integrated interventions focusing on prevention, treatment, and education are essential to protect children’s health. Overlooking oral health not only undermines the universality of this right but also weakens humanitarian responses. Ensuring its integration is therefore both an ethical obligation and a scientific necessity. Upholding children’s right to health in crisis settings is not only a humanitarian imperative but also crucial for building a healthier future for generations to come.

Comparison of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales colonizing war-affected children from the Gaza Strip and hospitalized children from a national reference center in Qatar: an observational cohort study.

Armed conflict and forced displacement in the Gaza Strip have severely disrupted access to safe water and sanitation, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of waterborne illness symptoms and evaluate water quality, sanitation conditions, and associated risk factors among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Gaza. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 16 to July 2, 2025, involving 1,200 displaced individuals residing in temporary shelters across five governorates. Data were collected on self-reported symptoms, water sources, sanitation access, and hygiene practices. In addition, 240 household water samples (20%) were microbiologically tested for fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with reported illness. Among participants, 31.5% reported symptoms consistent with waterborne illness, with the highest prevalence among children under five years (38.3%). Only 27.5% accessed piped or humanitarian water, whereas 61.2% relied on trucked water from unregulated vendors. Shared sanitation was common, with 45.4% using latrines shared by ≥5 families, and 31.7% lacking soap. Microbiological testing showed that 74.2% of water samples exceeded WHO thresholds for fecal coliforms and 62.5% tested positive for E. coli, with significantly higher contamination in water from unregulated vendors (p < 0.001). In adjusted models, use of untreated water (aOR 2.31), shared sanitation (aOR 1.89), and lack of soap (aOR 1.77) were independently associated with increased odds of illness. Displaced populations in Gaza face a high burden of waterborne illness, primarily driven by unsafe water sources, overcrowded sanitation, and poor hygiene. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated WASH interventions and strengthened disease surveillance to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable populations in conflict-affected settings.

The armed conflict between Israel and Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, has caused severe humanitarian impacts and raised strong allegations of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Israel’s military attacks on civilians, hospitals, and public infrastructure demonstrate breaches of the principles of distinction, proportionality, and humanity as stipulated in the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1977 Additional Protocol I. This study aims to analyze the forms of violations committed by Israeli forces and examine their legal accountability under international law and the International Criminal Court (ICC). The research employs a normative juridical method using statutory and case approaches, with primary legal materials from international treaties and secondary materials from academic journals and human rights reports. The findings indicate that Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute grave breaches and war crimes, as they deliberately target civilians and obstruct humanitarian assistance. This study emphasizes the urgency of enforcing international law and ensuring global accountability for perpetrators while encouraging member states of the Rome Statute to support ICC-led investigations into the ongoing violations

Introduction: Therapeutic patient education could improve rehabilitation outcomes and promote occupational justice. This study evaluated the feasibility of the Activities of Daily Living Education Manual for Spinal Cord Injury (SADL-eM) for people with Spinal Cord Injury living in Gaza, Palestine. Methodology: In 2020, a single-group prospective feasibility study was used with a criterion sample of 15 participants with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) recruited from an inpatient rehabilitation setting discharge list. Four domains of feasibility were assessed: demand, implementation, practicality, and acceptability, with predetermined criteria for feasibility in each domain. The secondary outcome was the reliability of the outcome measures used. Results: Demand for this therapeutic patient education intervention was high (88%). 30 of 43 statements were positive (70%). Two themes emerged: ‘Corresponding to my condition as an SCI’ and ‘Suggestions to improve the SADL-eM feasibility’. The therapeutic patient educational intervention feasibility was demonstrated by 60% recruitment, 100% adherence and zero% attrition rates. The reliability of the employed clinical tool outcome was low to very high (Cronbach Alpha: 0.43-0.97). Conclusion: A feasibility study is essential before conducting a main randomised control trail to reduce threats of failure and improve the reliability of findings. The SADL-eM was a feasible therapeutic education tool for people with SCI living in Gaza before the 2023/2024 war on the Gaza Strip. It is likely to continue being an important (and possibly only) information source for Arabic-speaking people who sustain an SCI. Implications for Occupational Therapy Practice Co-designed and culturally relevant therapeutic patient education tools are more likely to be accepted and used by PW-SCI. This feasibility study was essential before conducting the main RCT because it highlighted limitations for consideration when planning for the main study. The value of including the perspective of PW-SCI in evaluating the feasibility of this intervention was evident in the qualitative data collected and led to improved delivery of the SADL-eM intervention. Since rehabilitation services at most hospitals in the Gaza strip have been destroyed following the start of the October 2023 war on Gaza, this study also highlighted the need to develop a follow-up system for PW-SCI in the Gaza Strip to monitor their medical and functional status and ensure proper referral for ongoing community rehabilitation. The SCIM-SR-Ar shows promise as a tool for follow-up and monitoring of the functional status of Arabic-speaking people with SCI internationally. Sub-scales of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) have been used with people of Muslim faith in previous research. Due to gendered differences, we found this tool to be an unreliable measure of participation in spiritual activities in Gaza. Our freely-available Arabic therapeutic patient education manual, co-designed in Gaza, may prove to be a valuable resource in post-war rehabilitation services.

Drawing upon the foreign policy change theoretical framework, the article discusses potentialities for the United Arab Emirates pragmatic involvement in the (re)construction of the Gaza Strip after the war initiated in October 2023 by Hamas, and more broadly, in possible future Palestinian state- and nationbuilding. It analyses relevant Emirati internal reforms, foreign policy evolution, history of relations with the Palestinians, including regional context and development aid, as well as Emirati war-time agency. The findings relate the change of Emirati foreign policy to the renewal of its leadership and regional developments, yet without a redefinition of its fundamental goals. Said change involves a regionalisation effort meant at promoting stability, cooperation and peace within the nation-states’ based system, including the two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Abstract Enhancing productivity, income, and food security requires agricultural services and skill development, especially in vulnerable areas like the Gaza Strip where farmers constantly confront obstacles. With an emphasis on the mediating function of farmers' knowledge, this study investigates the connections among household food security, skill development, and agricultural services. 379 farmers in the Gaza Strip were surveyed using a quantitative methodology. In order to examine the direct and indirect effects of agricultural services and skills on food security outcomes, data were gathered using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software. The findings show that farmers' knowledge and levels of food security are greatly and favorably impacted by agricultural services. It was discovered that having access to financial support, technical help, and agricultural inputs improved farmers' ability to provide food for their families. Additionally, learning agricultural skills helped farmers become more knowledgeable, which enhanced the results of food security. These results demonstrate how knowledge acts as a mediator in converting training and services into noticeable increases in livelihoods. The study comes to the conclusion that two important ways to improve food security in the Gaza Strip are to invest in skill development and to boost agricultural services. To optimize the impact on household resilience and food security, policymakers and development practitioners are urged to create interventions that include technical assistance, input provision, and capacity-building initiatives.

Patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) face multiple risks of excess mortality during wars. The Gaza Strip's health services have been severely disrupted by Israel's campaign since October 2023. We developed a modelling approach to project NCD excess mortality under three defined scenarios. We projected excess mortality from cancer (lung, colorectal, and breast), cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus type 1 patients, and chronic kidney disease requiring haemodialysis from February 2024 to August 2024. We defined three scenarios of treatment coverage: (i) ceasefire, (ii) status quo, and (iii) escalation. We used pre-war incidence and prevalence data to probabilistically simulate deaths among patient cohorts exposed to varying time-dependent mortality depending on their treatment status. We subtracted the expected non-crisis mortality based on pre-war data to compute excess deaths. We projected 1,680, 2,480 and 2,680 excess deaths under the ceasefire, status quo and escalation scenarios, respectively, from February till August 2024, plus 1489 in the war's earlier phase. Most deaths were projected among individuals aged >50 years old and from ischaemic heart disease. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to project NCD mortality in a live war setting, demonstrating potential impacts on NCD burden, particularly due to cardiovascular causes. The model focusses only on a subset of NCDs and neglects the impact of the crisis on disease progression, thereby plausibly underestimating actual mortality. It could inform better humanitarian resource allocation and service planning but requires refinement and improved parameterisation.

The Gaza Strip faces a dual challenge of severe freshwater scarcity and chronic electricity shortages, constraining the operation of critical infrastructure such as seawater desalination plants. This study investigates the design and feasibility of integrating a solar photovoltaic (PV) system into the Deir El-Balah seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination plant to enhance sustainability, reduce dependency on external electricity supplies, and minimize environmental impacts. Using the Helioscope simulation tool, both on-grid and off-grid scenarios were evaluated to assess system performance under local solar conditions. The optimized design requires 2,663 Canadian Solar HiKu CS3W-415P modules with Enphase M250 inverters, yielding a total installed capacity of 1.11 MWp and an AC output of 639 kW. Modules were allocated across rooftop structures and ground-mounted plots to maximize land-use efficiency. The system can meet the plant’s daily demand of approximately 1,100 kWh, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond technical performance, the integration of solar PV offers strategic benefits, including cost savings, improved energy security, and alignment with global sustainability agendas. The findings highlight the potential of renewable-powered desalination to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 7, and 13) while advancing resilience and energy–water security in resource-constrained regions.

A study of the link between food-water insecurities and self-reported psychotic experiences among young adults in Gaza Strip: What role does social support play under conditions of war and extreme suffering?

Introduction: Therapeutic patient education could improve rehabilitation outcomes and promote occupational justice. This study evaluated the feasibility of the Activities of Daily Living Education Manual for Spinal Cord Injury (SADL-eM) for people with Spinal Cord Injury living in Gaza, Palestine. Methodology: In 2020, a single-group prospective feasibility study was used with a criterion sample of 15 participants with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) recruited from an inpatient rehabilitation setting discharge list. Four domains of feasibility were assessed: demand, implementation, practicality, and acceptability, with predetermined criteria for feasibility in each domain. The secondary outcome was the reliability of the outcome measures used. Results: Demand for this therapeutic patient education intervention was high (88%). 30 of 43 statements were positive (70%). Two themes emerged: ‘Corresponding to my condition as an SCI’ and ‘Suggestions to improve the SADL-eM feasibility’. The therapeutic patient educational intervention feasibility was demonstrated by 60% recruitment, 100% adherence and zero% attrition rates. The reliability of the employed clinical tool outcome was low to very high (Cronbach Alpha: 0.43-0.97). Conclusion: A feasibility study is essential before conducting a main randomised control trail to reduce threats of failure and improve the reliability of findings. The SADL-eM was a feasible therapeutic education tool for people with SCI living in Gaza before the 2023/2024 war on the Gaza Strip. It is likely to continue being an important (and possibly only) information source for Arabic-speaking people who sustain an SCI. Implications for Occupational Therapy Practice Co-designed and culturally relevant therapeutic patient education tools are more likely to be accepted and used by PW-SCI. This feasibility study was essential before conducting the main RCT because it highlighted limitations for consideration when planning for the main study. The value of including the perspective of PW-SCI in evaluating the feasibility of this intervention was evident in the qualitative data collected and led to improved delivery of the SADL-eM intervention. Since rehabilitation services at most hospitals in the Gaza strip have been destroyed following the start of the October 2023 war on Gaza, this study also highlighted the need to develop a follow-up system for PW-SCI in the Gaza Strip to monitor their medical and functional status and ensure proper referral for ongoing community rehabilitation. The SCIM-SR-Ar shows promise as a tool for follow-up and monitoring of the functional status of Arabic-speaking people with SCI internationally. Sub-scales of the Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality (BMMRS) have been used with people of Muslim faith in previous research. Due to gendered differences, we found this tool to be an unreliable measure of participation in spiritual activities in Gaza. Our freely-available Arabic therapeutic patient education manual, co-designed in Gaza, may prove to be a valuable resource in post-war rehabilitation services.

ABSTRACT Purpose An enormous humanitarian crisis brought on by the October 2023 conflict caused widespread displacement, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and a precipitous drop in living conditions. Widespread starvation and the collapse of the water, sanitation, and health systems has led to an increase in infections. Methods This narrative evaluation highlights the dire health situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS). Results GBS has experienced a marked increase since 2023; in 2025, about 100 instances were reported, including many fatalities, particularly in children and young people. This syndrome, which is typically caused by respiratory or enteric infections (particularly Campylobacter jejuni and enteroviruses ), is exacerbated by malnutrition, overcrowding, and insufficient care. More severe forms of the disease and higher death rates have resulted from limited access to traditional medicines, such as intravenous immunoglobulins and plasmapheresis, as well as critical care assistance. In addition to its clinical effects, GBS has a significant psychological toll on patients and their families, who are already vulnerable due to displacement and conflict. Conclusion The scope of this outbreak demonstrates the connection between immunological vulnerability, humanitarian decline, and health system collapse. It also emphasizes the pressing need for coordinated interventions to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, restore essential services, and guarantee access to life‐saving care.

Abstract This brief paper aims to consider the impact of Israel’s settler-colonial measures on workers in the West Bank of the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) after October 2023. Although the ongoing war has been waged on the Gaza Strip, with devastating repercussions for lives and livelihoods in the Strip, Israeli colonial measures in the West Bank have had a grave impact on all segments of Palestinian society, including workers. These measures include: First; closure of the Israeli labor market in the face of tens of thousands of Palestinian workers. Second, broadening the system of movement restrictions within the West Bank which led to disruptions in local production and trade thus damaging private sector operations. Third; Israel’s continued withholding of Palestinian custom duty revenues with adverse impacts on workers in general but particularly public sector workers. To assess the impact of these measures, the paper utilizes a number of indices to assess the situation of these workers; including labor supply, unemployment, wage levels, distribution across sectors, informality, and workers’ rights. The paper finds a grave deterioration in the situation of workers in the labor market at all levels, with dire repercussions for workers and their families.

This article examines the legal framework for the protection of journalists during armed conflict in light of the rules of international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols. It highlights the grave risks faced by journalists in conflict zones which may include direct targeting despite their status as civilians who must be respected and protected. The 2023 attack on the Gaza Strip witnessed unprecedented violations against journalists, with more than 219 journalists killed and dozens of media organizations directly targeted and destroyed. These acts constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and warrant consideration for their classification as war crimes and possibly even crimes against humanity, if proven to be intentional and systematic. This article presents the legal frameworks governing the protection of journalists, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories during the 2023 assault on the Gaza Strip. It reviews the legal accountability mechanisms available to halt Israeli violations against journalists during the war and to prosecute those responsible for these violations, including through the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, it explores the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows states to prosecute Israeli officials for these violations if they are arrested. In addition, there are international commissions of inquiry, along with human rights and media organizations, that document these violations and disseminate them through local, regional, and international media outlets, thus calling for those responsible to be held accountable. This article emphasizes that continued impunity poses a threat to the principle of protecting journalists and encourages the recurrence of violations. It calls for serious international action to ensure the protection of journalists, as they are the first line of defense for the truth during armed conflicts, especially Palestinian journalists who convey the truth and expose the crimes of the Israeli army during the assault on the Gaza Strip.

This study explores the rhetorical strategies used by US President Donald Trump's proposal for the forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. It employs a pragmatic analysis framework to scrutinize Trump's statements, focusing on pragmatic presuppositions and speech acts. By examining purposively sampled extracts from Trump's White House meetings, this study provides an in-depth analysis of Trump’s rhetorical strategies in his proposal for the forced displacement of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The findings highlight Trump's discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his rhetoric of forced displacement, disregarding international law and Palestinian rights. His speech acts employ various functions, shaping the dominant narrative surrounding Gaza and Palestine. At the same time, his approach to conflict resolution relied on economic incentives and US control, neglecting the conflict's intricacies and power dynamics. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Trump’s rhetorical approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its implications for international relations.

Nutritional status has been compromised by ongoing war and restrictions on food deliveries in the Gaza Strip. We developed a mathematical model that outputs retrospective estimates and scenario-based projections of acute malnutrition prevalence among children given caloric intake and other factors. We present here the model and its application to the crisis in Gaza. We extended an existing mechanistic model for weight change as a function of energy balance, calibrating it to represent variability in growth curves observed in pre-war Gaza. We simulated open cohorts of children exposed to time-varying caloric intake, infant exclusive breast-feeding prevalence, incidence of infectious disease and coverage of malnutrition treatment, while allowing for adult caloric sacrifice to supplement child intake in times of food scarcity. The model accurately replicates growth standards, pre-war growth patterns and expected parameter dependencies. It suggests that a considerable increase in acute malnutrition occurred in northern Gaza during early 2024. Projections for late 2024 include a serious nutritional emergency if relatively pessimistic assumptions are made about food availability. The model may hold considerable promise for informing decisions in humanitarian response but requires further validation and development.