Al-Bursh: Israel Waging a Health Genocide to Erase Palestinians
Al-Bursh stressed that the occupation is deliberately engineering both genocide and health genocide, aiming to “erase the Palestinian lineage” and produce “a deformed generation.
Palestine, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Director-General of Gaza’s Ministry of Health, Dr. Munir Al-Bursh, revealed a dramatic and unprecedented rise in anemia cases among children in the Gaza Strip, announcing that the rate has reached 82% among infants under one year old.
This figure, he warned, reflects a catastrophic deterioration in public health caused by the prolonged blockade and the ongoing war.
Al-Bursh stressed that the occupation is deliberately engineering both genocide and health genocide, aiming to “erase the Palestinian lineage” and produce “a deformed generation born from a deformed mother.”
He noted that the sharp rise in anemia poses an imminent threat to children’s survival and development, particularly as the occupation continues to prevent the entry of essential medicines for child health programs.
He also revealed that 156 congenital deformities have already been recorded since the beginning of the war.
Decline in Birth Rates and Collapse of Maternal Health
According to Al-Bursh, Gaza has witnessed a staggering 40% drop in birth rates compared to pre-war levels — a direct reflection of the catastrophic living and health conditions facing families.
This decline highlights the extreme danger surrounding mothers and newborns as the healthcare system continues to collapse under bombardment, starvation, and the blockade.
The warnings come as the Israeli war on Gaza — backed by the United States and Europe — continues unabated since October 7, 2023. The assault has brought mass destruction, displacement, starvation, and widespread killing, despite international appeals and rulings by the International Court of Justice calling for an end to the genocide.
Humanitarian Toll and Worsening Health Catastrophe
According to official Palestinian data, the war has resulted in over 239,000 people killed or injured, the majority being women and children, in addition to more than 11,000 missing persons whose fate remains unknown.
The Strip is also suffering from famine that has claimed the lives of numerous children, alongside hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians and near-total destruction of Gaza’s cities and neighborhoods.
Health authorities warn that the anemia crisis is only one aspect of the wider health collapse gripping the besieged Strip. They emphasize the urgent need for international intervention to prevent the catastrophe from expanding further and leaving permanent effects on entire generations. (PW)