Two of the victims are children under the age of 15, who died “for lack of access to vital treatments” due to the blockade imposed by Israel on the entrance to humanitarian aid in the enclave.
“The Ministry of Health of Gaza warned that the lack of treatment required was likely to worsen the situation,” said the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA) in its latest report.
The sectoral group of humanitarian workers responsible for health notes that specialized rehabilitation establishments, including Hamad, Al Amal and Al Wafaa hospitals, are overwhelmed by cases of trauma (complex polytrauma) and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Palestinians moved to Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip.
Many cases reported in densely populated areas
The World Health Organization (WHO), which is alarmed “of a worrying increase” of cases, notes that 30% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome must be admitted to an intensive care unit.
According to the Gazaouies health authorities, 64 cases, including 27 in children under the age of 15, were listed, according to a count made on July 31, 2025, against only five cases per year before the climbing of the conflict in October 2023. Among these, 32 cases were identified in the governorate of Khan Younis (50 %), 28 in the governorate of Gaza (44 %) and four in the governorate Al Balah (6 %).
Although many cases have been reported in very densely populated areas, in particular in the governorates of Khan Younis and Gaza, no group of cases has been reported in defined geographic areas. According to WHO, there is currently no available stock of intravenous immunoglobulins, the main drug used for the treatment of Guillain-Barré syndrome.
The collapse of the hospital system in Gaza resulted in the death of several thousand people, due to the lack of treatments to treat their pathologies. They are not counted in the daily balance sheets published by the Gazan authorities, which report at least 61,158 Palestinians directly killed by Israeli fire or bombardments since the start of the war.
What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological and autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system and causes a progressive muscles paralysis. This syndrome is not a contagious disease and is often triggered by an earlier infection, whether viral or bacterial, which disrupts the immune system.
In most cases, patients can recover without sequelae in a few weeks. But, “even in the best health contexts, 3 % to 5 % of patients die from complications from the disease, such as a paralysis of the breathing muscles, sepsis, pulmonary embolism or cardiac arrest”, summarizes the UN World Health Agency.
Malnutrition, incessant movements following the evacuation orders of the Israeli army, overcrowding in makeshift camps, the lack of sanitation and the rarity of drinking water have already caused several epidemics of infectious diseases in the besieged enclave such as polio, cholera, hepatitis or even gale The Israeli offensive in October 2023.
420 Suspectful cases of meningitis
In addition to the appearance of Guillain-Barré syndrome, the enclave must face the threat of a bacterial disease. According to the OCHA, 420 suspicious cases of meningitis were reported in July. This is the “highest recorded” number since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Among these, 197 cases were identified in the governorate of Khan Younis, 150 in the governorate of Gaza and 73 in Deir al-Balah.
The destruction of the main WHO medical warehouse in Deir al-Balah led to a critical antibiotic shortage, essential to the treatment of meningitis.
As if to worsen things, Gaza hospitals are also overwhelmed by “an influx of wounded who exceeds their capacities”.
The bed’s occupancy rate in hospitals specializing in trauma has increased considerably: 300 % at Al-Ahli Arab hospital, 240 % at Al-Shifa hospital, 210 % at Al Ranti hospital and 180 % at Nasser Hospital. Hospitals are therefore forced to install patients on the floor and in the corridors for lack of available beds.
Women and children expect food in community cuisine west of the city of Gaza.
Acute malnutrition
In addition, the worsening of the famine observed in recent weeks in the Palestinian enclave has increased the total number of Palestinians who died due to malnutrition at 193 people, including 96 children, according to a count made Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
This figure includes five people who died in the day before yesterday.
Nearly 12,000 children under the age of five in Gaza suffered from acute malnutrition in July, the highest monthly figure ever recorded, according to the sectoral nutrition group.
Among these children, more than 2,500 of them suffer from severe acute malnutrition, 40 of which were hospitalized in stabilization centers.
And in the besieged enclave, even humanitarian workers are not spared by suffering.
“I know that a single meal is not enough, but maybe that is enough to keep us alive,” said social network X, an employee of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). “This is the reality of our colleagues from UNRWA in Gaza: exhausted, dizzy and hungry, they nevertheless continue to serve the community.”
