As winter tightens its grip on Gaza, health officials are warning that seasonal influenza could turn deadly for a population already exhausted by hunger, deprivation and systemic collapse. With immunity levels severely weakened after months of famine and overcrowded living conditions, the spread of flu now poses a serious threat, particularly as the territory enters the peak months of January and February amid the ongoing genocidal war.

Medical professionals inside Gaza report that malnutrition has left large segments of the population unable to resist even common infections. Influenza, usually manageable with prevention and early treatment, risks developing into severe complications under these conditions. Hospitals have already recorded cases requiring intensive care, and doctors fear a sharp rise in critical admissions as temperatures drop. The absence of preventive measures has compounded the danger, especially for children, older people and those living with chronic illness.

The situation has been made more acute by the continued refusal to allow influenza vaccines into Gaza, despite confirmed availability elsewhere. Annual vaccination programmes, normally administered before the height of winter, have not taken place. At the same time, essential medicines are running out, with painkillers and basic treatments either unavailable or priced beyond reach. Health facilities are operating with nearly empty warehouses, leaving doctors with few options as respiratory illnesses spread.

Officials warn that the risk extends beyond traditionally vulnerable groups. In a setting where healthcare infrastructure has been systematically dismantled and medical supplies remain blocked, even otherwise healthy individuals face heightened danger. Without urgent intervention to allow vaccines and medicines to enter, preventable illness may claim lives, adding another layer of suffering to a healthcare system already pushed to the brink by the genocidal war.