Palestinian officials report that 540 women accounted for 12 percent of amputations, while over 800 amputees are youngsters, accounting for 18 percent of instances.
The Health Ministry has recorded 4,500 amputations, including upper and lower limbs, since Israel’s genocide in the besieged enclave began, according to a senior health official in Gaza.
Zaher al Wahidi, the head of the ministry’s Health Information Unit, stated in a statement on Friday that “by the end of 2024, we have recorded 4,500 amputation cases, as a result of the continuous Israeli airstrikes and ground attacks on Gaza.”
He stated that 540 women were responsible for 12 percent of the amputations, while approximately 800 amputees were children, accounting for 18 percent of the cases.
Wahidi emphasized that the numbers highlight the scope of the humanitarian crisis that the civilian population is currently experiencing, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as women and children.
The genocidal conflict will probably continue to increase the number of amputations, he warned, adding to the already severe pressure on the health care system, which is already struggling with severe shortages of medical supplies as a result of the blockade that has been in place for more than 18 years.
The Israeli army has intentionally targeted medical facilities since the start of the conflict in October 2023, destroying hospitals, evacuating people, and obstructing vital medical supplies, especially in the heavily battered north after October 5.
Wahidi demanded quick action to stop Israeli abuses and safeguard the civilian population, and he immediately appealed for international assistance to solve the deteriorating situation.
“The largest group of amputee children in modern history”
In October, Lisa Dutton, a UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) official, responded to the growing number of child amputations by stating that Gaza was now “home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history.”
Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, the Israeli army has persisted in its genocidal attack on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 46,000 people, primarily women and children.
In November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were the targets of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Because of its war on the enclave, Israel is also facing a genocide prosecution at the International Court of Justice.
