In a declaration commemorating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the ministry described the plight of amputees in Gaza as “shocking,” noting that 25% of these cases affect children facing lifelong impairments from a young age.
The ministry further stated that thousands of injured civilians and their relatives are enduring “deep humanitarian suffering,” emphasizing the critical requirement for ongoing physical therapy alongside mental and community support.
It urged pertinent global entities to focus on Gaza's amputees and improve availability to expert treatment and recovery initiatives.
Separately, in September, Philippe Lazzarini, the leader of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), indicated that Gaza now hosts the largest per capita count of child amputees globally following the onset of the Israeli conflict.
Since October 2023, the Israeli military has caused over 70,000 deaths in Gaza, predominantly among women and children, while wounding more than 171,000 in a severe offensive that devastated the area, before a truce agreement halted the genocide war on Oct. 10.