Israel's war on Gaza leaves around 10,000 Palestinians disabled: report

Israel's ongoing indiscriminate war on Gaza has left around 10,000 Palestinians in the besieged enclave with various disabilities, an NGO announced on Saturday.

The Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that the Palestinian NGOs Network's (PNGO) Rehabilitation Sector has warned against Israel's attacks and their dire consequences on people in Gaza.

A statement released by the network said hundreds of disabled people have already been killed, while thousands more have been wounded in the war since 7 October.

The NGO added that Israel forces' destruction of key infrastructure, including roads and rehabilitation centres have severely restricted the movement and access to services for people with disabilities.

"This has significantly diminished their ability to mobilise, evacuate safely, and has resulted in the loss of crucial assistive devices, abandoned in the face of bombardment," Wafa reported, citing findings from the NGO.

The group highlighted that disabled people are further experiencing more difficulties in displacement camps, where there are a lack of basic services and overcrowding.

Israel's blocking of aid, coupled with some parts of Gaza being on the brink of famine because of the war, has also made access to food and medicine even more challenging for people with disabilities.

The NGO reiterated that disabled people are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and chronic illnesses, which significantly increases their risk of death.

Since the start of the war, thousands of children have lost limbs in Gaza. According to estimates from Al Jazeera in February, figures show that around 10 children are losing a limb per day in the Strip since the start of the war.

According to Relief Web, prior to 7 October, 21 percent of households in Gaza had at least one member with a disability. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said this translated to around 58,000 people with disabilities.

Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 37,834 Palestinians in Gaza since October and wounded at least 86,858 others in the same time frame.