Gaza health minister warns of disease risk as Israeli siege continues

Gaza’s Health Minister Majid Abu Ramadan has warned of mounting health risks across the Strip as worsening environmental conditions fuel a surge in rodents.

In a statement on Friday, he said widespread destruction, rubble and untreated waste have created conditions for rats and mice to spread rapidly, increasing the risk of disease transmission through bites, contamination and parasites.

Abu Ramadan warned that illnesses such as hantavirus, plague, leptospirosis, salmonella and tularemia could spread more easily under current conditions.

He urged the World Health Organization and other international bodies to act urgently by supplying pest control materials and strengthening prevention measures.

More than one million people are living in tents or exposed conditions, heightening their vulnerability, he said.

The minister also warned that children face growing risks, with rising malnutrition and war-related injuries increasing the likelihood of disease and death, as he called for immediate international intervention.