Widespread Chickenpox Outbreak Hits Gaza Amid Deepening Humanitarian Crisis

Nearly nine months after the ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate despite a reduction in intense fighting. Over two million residents face a collapsing healthcare system, severe medicine shortages, and worsening living conditions in overcrowded refugee camps. The Gaza Health Ministry, run by Hamas, reported that three Palestinians were killed on Wednesday by Israeli fire and airstrikes across southern, central, and northern Gaza, with another dying from earlier injuries. Since the ceasefire began in October 2025, 1,182 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,810 injured in what the ministry calls violations of the agreement.

Israeli forces reportedly entered the Zeitoun neighborhood in southeastern Gaza City overnight, accompanied by artillery fire and earth-moving equipment, with explosions heard throughout the night. Residents describe daily military activity in the area. However, the main concern among Gazans has shifted from bombings to survival amid ongoing shortages of electricity, water, fuel, and basic necessities. Activist Nasiba Khalas highlighted the harsh reality of living without electricity for three years, affecting food storage, hygiene, and comfort.

A major health crisis has emerged with a large-scale chickenpox outbreak. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry and the World Health Organization, over 9,300 people, mostly children in refugee camps, contracted the disease within two weeks. Dr. Amer Al-Masri, a skin disease specialist, explained the rapid spread is due to overcrowding and difficulty isolating patients. Many camps also suffer from rodent and parasite infestations amid failing water and sanitation systems.

The healthcare crisis extends beyond infectious diseases. The Gaza Health Ministry warns that essential oncology drugs have run out, forcing a halt to cancer treatments including chemotherapy for breast, colon, digestive system, head, and neck cancers. More than 4,000 cancer patients await exit permits for treatment outside Gaza, while shortages of immune boosters and painkillers endanger many lives. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also reported over 40 journalists urgently needing medical exit permits, which Israel continues to deny despite medical documentation.

Politically, skepticism prevails among Gazans despite Hamas appointing Khalil al-Hayya as head of its political bureau, promising to prioritize Gaza’s issues. Many residents doubt any real change on the ground. Those who manage to leave Gaza for medical or humanitarian reasons often choose not to return. Meanwhile, Israel maintains targeted military operations against Hamas militants, especially those linked to hostage holding, the October 7 attacks on border communities, or combat against Israeli forces during the war.