Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has worsened with an unprecedented plague: rats. For over a year, Palestinians have been enduring not only Israeli military aggression but also the spread of these pests, which some believe have been deliberately introduced by the Israeli army. The rats have exacerbated an already dire situation, contributing to widespread panic and disgust among the displaced.

Abu Yusuf Al-Dali, displaced from his home in Khan Younis, recounts the horrors of living beneath the rubble of a destroyed tower. His family, already traumatized by repeated displacements, now faces constant infestation by rats, which leap over the bodies of his children, gnawing at their food. Despite enduring endless hardships, the rats have made their living conditions unbearable.

Local testimonies suggest that the Israeli military may be responsible for releasing the rats in the areas they invaded. These rodents pose a serious health threat, as they carry diseases like Salmonella, exacerbating the already dire situation in Gaza, where disease outbreaks are on the rise due to overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the breakdown of healthcare systems.

The spread of the rats is just one aspect of the broader public health crisis. The WHO has warned of an alarming increase in diseases, including measles, mumps, and respiratory infections, as a result of the ongoing Israeli assault. Over 600,000 cases of respiratory illnesses have been reported, alongside widespread outbreaks of skin diseases, scabies, and lice.

Since the beginning of the Israeli aggression, over 45,000 Palestinians have been killed, and many more have been injured or left trapped under rubble. The situation continues to deteriorate, with international organizations struggling to provide adequate aid as Gaza faces not only the physical destruction of its infrastructure but also the devastating effects of disease and environmental collapse.

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