Introduction
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) are defined as people
who are displaced and seek refuge within their own
country. (1-3) Due to the Gaza war and genocide, 90% of
its entire civilian population (2 million as of the end of
2024) have been uprooted, the majority of whom have
been internally displaced multiple times. (4)
Health and Human Rights Violation of the IDPs
Citizens who are forcibly displaced due to violence
abruptly lose their housing along with their work,
properties, financial resources, legal documents, and
more.(5) Internal displacement has immediate and long
term impacts on IDPs as the lack of permanent housing
involves the lack of safety, food security, education, and
social welfare.(2) IDPs experience an increased risk of
mortality, an increased risk of neonatal and perinatal
deaths, particularly in stillbirths, and poor perinatal
outcomes.(6)
Inadequate or overcrowded shelters lead to poor sanitary
conditions for IDPs. Poor health outcomes also result
from nutritional deficiencies and oral problems in IDPs.
Additionally, IDPs are at risk of developing mental
health issues (2) and emotional scarring (1) from the high
prevalence of various types of violent exposure. (6)
Gaza’s Health and Human Rights Status Prior to the Gaza Genocide
Root causes of internal displacement include the inter
ethnic, political, and chronic abuse of power. All of
these causes describe the 2023-2025 war on Gaza
The inequality of power and national wealth also
contributes to the violation of Gazans’ human rights.
(7)Management of such conflicts is recommended to end
internally forced displacement. Immediate cessation of
the violence and an end to the occupation are crucial.
Health inequalities existed in Gaza and Palestine prior to
the current war and genocide. By imposing policies and
practices that target Palestinians, Israel is committing the
crime of apartheid, which is mutually exclusive with
health. (10) Examples of racialized health policies and
practices include extrajudicial killing, maiming,
excessive use of force, displacement, dispossession,
isolation, containment, arbitrary detention, and
movement restrictions of Palestinians.Specific to Gaza,
the Israeli-Egyptian blockade since 2007 has caused the
healthcare system to be vastly overstretched, under
resourced, and inadequate. (11,12) It would be
understandable that Israel’s long-term siege would have
already created an environment coercing Gazans to leave
Gaza even before this war.
Gaza’s Health and Human Rights Status during the Gaza Genocide
Targeted bombing of hospitals and schools was officially
declared a crime against humanity by United Nations
experts.(13) By destroying healthcare facilities and
school shelters in this current war, Gazans are left with
limited ability to provide adequate health services,
leaving the population with less chance of survival.(14)A
Gazan conflict surgeon believes that it is a deliberate
strategy of the Israeli military to destroy Gaza’s
healthcare system.(15)Although hospitals and the
healthcare infrastructure are protected by international
humanitarian law, according to Human Rights Watch, no
legal evidence has been provided to justify why Israel
would violate the protection of Gaza’s hospital and other
health resources.
The forced internal displacement of Gazans due to this
current war has caused IDPs to experience higher rates of
mortality, disability, and mental health disorders. (16) The
rate of infections, illnesses, and deterioration of their
mental health was remarkably high. (17) Children
experienced the bombing of their homes, schools, and
shelters in which they were displaced. (16) Not
surprisingly, children have high rates of post-traumatic
stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. It is therefore
projected that Gazan children may endure trauma, fear,
or mental pressures throughout their lives. Such
psychological impact also has direct and often fatal
consequences for reproductive health, such as “stress
related miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature births
(13)
Gaza’s Immediate Need for Humanitarian Aid and the End of Occupation
International humanitarian law and human rights protect
vulnerable individuals, especially women and children. It
is imperative for immediate and unimpeded access to
humanitarian aid for Gazans, the majority of whom are
IDPs. (18)Gazans are in dire need of medical supplies,
equipment, and medical human resources. Continued
advocacy from the international community for a
permanent ceasefire and the end of the occupation is
imperative to stopping the Gaza genocide, (8,9) and
ending Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. (14,16) There is an
immediate need to stop the killing and prevent furth
suffering of Gazans, the majority of whom are
(18,19) And, in doing so, a healthier, more just global
society will result.
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