Humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip have severely deteriorated amid ongoing conflict and blockades, leading to an environmental and public health crisis marked by widespread rodent and parasite infestations. The deteriorating situation is closely linked to the near-total destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure, restricted access to humanitarian aid, and the compounding effects of overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions.

Since October 2023, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have destroyed over 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure, including water and sewage systems, waste management facilities, and health centers. The consequent collapse of sanitation services has caused raw sewage, garbage, and stagnant water to accumulate, creating an ideal environment for rats, insects, and parasites to thrive in the crowded displacement camps, where millions of Palestinians are confined.

Reports from Gaza describe rodents biting children in their sleep and gnawing on scarce food supplies, contributing to the spread of diseases such as leptospirosis and rat-bite fever. Medical officials across Gaza’s remaining health facilities, many of which have suffered partial or complete destruction, report daily cases of rodent-related injuries and infections, particularly affecting children and the elderly. Anxiety is rising in communities facing constant threats of infestation and disease.

Residents have recounted harrowing experiences. Mohamed Al-Raqab, a Palestinian living near Khan Yunis, described how his children suffer rat bites, leaving him awake at night to monitor their safety. Similarly, Samah Al-Daabla reported her young daughter sustained bloody wounds after an encounter with a weasel inside their tent. Hospitals treated her daughter with a tetanus injection, but symptoms continued for days.

The lack of essential supplies, including pesticides and disinfectants, has left families relying on inadequate and improvised measures to control the infestation. Factors such as high prices and limited availability of pest-control products exacerbate the challenge. Humanitarian agencies emphasize that Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid, equipment, and commercial goods prevent effective intervention and risk a full-scale public health disaster.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described Gaza as a “collapsed living environment,” warning that the current conditions almost certainly will trigger outbreaks of infectious diseases. United Nations data indicate that by early 2026, Gaza recorded more than 70,000 cases of infestations involving lice, scabies, and bedbugs, alongside roughly 17,000 cases linked specifically to rodent exposure. Over 80% of displacement sites report ongoing pest presence.

In addition to the infrastructural collapse, large areas remain buried under debris from recent airstrikes, with tens of thousands of bodies believed to be trapped beneath rubble. Decomposing remains contribute to environmental contamination, contaminating groundwater and encouraging further spread of pests. Residents report increased rodent aggression, with rats drawn to these hazardous zones.

International organizations estimate that Gaza will require over $71 billion in reconstruction funds over the next decade to repair the extensive damage. However, political dynamics, including shifting regional priorities amid conflict with Iran, have dampened international pledges and support for Gaza’s rebuilding efforts.

Health officials warn that without significant improvements in sanitation, waste management, and unrestricted humanitarian access, the crisis will escalate, deepening the public health emergency and worsening the psychological toll on Gaza’s population. Parents like Shorouk, a mother of three, describe living amid “rats, rubbish, and sewage” as a daily trauma and a threat to their children’s well-being. As temperatures rise in the spring, fears grow that infestations and disease outbreaks will become more severe.