“Illness is our true companion during war and famine” The orchestrated long-term harm to palestinians’ health: A key element of the ongoing genocide
Almost a year after the announcement of the ceasefire in October 2025 and the adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025), which endorsed the “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” Gaza continues to face one of the most devastating humanitarian consequences in recent history – an ongoing genocide. Over the last three years, Médecins du Monde has documented the impact of the genocide and the blockade of humanitarian aid on Palestinians’ health, notably the effects of malnutrition and lack of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
The 2.1 million people in Gaza continue to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions, with widespread and repeated displacement, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and severe restrictions on access to healthcare, food, water, shelter and other basic necessities.
Palestinians are grappling with the collapse of systems essential to their survival, while humanitarian access has declined sharply and violations of the ceasefire continue daily.
Over the last three years, Médecins du Monde has documented the impact of the genocide and the blockade of humanitarian aid on Palestinians’ health, notably the effects of malnutrition and lack of access to sexual and reproductive healthcare.
As Médecins du Monde continues to deliver primary healthcare across the Gaza Strip, including nutrition, sexual and reproductive care and mental health, the medical teams witness the long-lasting harm of the current impossible living conditions. The population is trapped in a cycle of displacement and restricted access to food, hygiene, clean water and healthcare.
Médecins du Monde’s data illustrate a broad public health emergency in which people are continuously exposed to preventable diseases, keeping them in unhealthy conditions and leading to severe complications with limited access to treatment.
This report focuses on the compounding effect of extremely harsh living conditions and severely restricted access to healthcare for Palestinians living in Gaza.
