Under the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, a new health threat emerges that endangers the lives of the population, especially children, with dozens of cases of the rare and dangerous Guillain-Barré Syndrome being reported. This disease, which attacks the nervous system, causes sudden paralysis and can lead to death, and its prevalence has noticeably increased in recent weeks.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 95 cases of the syndrome have been recorded, including 45 cases among children, with three deaths reported in just the last week, an unprecedented rise compared to the normal rate of no more than one case per year in the region. The director general of the ministry, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, explained that the disease begins with the loss of the ability to move the muscles in the lower limbs, then gradually extends to other parts of the body, which can cause difficulty in breathing and even death.

Al-Bursh pointed out that the outbreak of the disease reflects the collapse of the health system due to the Israeli siege, which prevents the entry of necessary medicines and nutrients, emphasizing that the disease is directly linked to water pollution and malnutrition, especially among children. He confirmed that the deterioration of the health situation reflects a humanitarian disaster exacerbated by water pollution and the collapse of sanitation services, creating a fertile environment for the spread of diseases.

Activists expressed their concern that toxic environmental conditions, resulting from widespread pollution, could lead to a broader spread of the disease, warning that the continuation of the current situation could result in a health disaster greater than hunger itself. They emphasized that the weakened immunity of the population, especially children, makes the disease more lethal, warning that the absence of appropriate treatment could lead to mass deaths in the region.

Citizens shared testimonies of sudden cases of infection, including the story of the child Amir Dhahir, who suffered complete paralysis and died after a week, along with other accounts of children experiencing loss of movement and paralysis in their limbs, with the absence of effective treatment in Gaza. They called for urgent intervention from international health organizations to provide medicines and treatment, warning of an impending health disaster if neglect and the absence of international support continue.

In a related context, bloggers held the Israeli occupation responsible for the spread of diseases, through systematic policies aimed at destroying infrastructure, especially water and sanitation networks, which led to the deterioration of health and living conditions, creating a suitable environment for the spread of epidemics. Others viewed these policies as aimed at emptying the sector of its population, not only through bombing and starvation but also by destroying the health environment, making life impossible and threatening the existence of the population.