Israel blocks polio vaccines from Gaza amid health crisis

Gaza health officials warn of dire consequences as vaccine blockade puts over 600,000 children at ris.

A polio vaccination campaign targeting around 600,000 Palestinian children under the age of 10 continues in Beit Lahia, Gaza, on February 25, 2025. Photo by Abdul Hakim Abu Riash/Anadolu

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a shocking escalation of the humanitarian crisis, Israel blocks polio vaccines from Gaza, raising urgent alarms from Gaza’s health authorities who warn that the lives of hundreds of thousands of children now hang in the balance. On Sunday, April 6, Gaza’s health officials issued a statement condemning Israel’s decision to halt the entry of critical vaccines into the besieged enclave, describing it as “indirect targeting” of children.

According to the statement, the ban on polio vaccine shipments directly threatens 602,000 children, who could face the devastating effects of permanent paralysis and lifelong disabilities if immediate action is not taken. This development marks a grim turn in a region already reeling from months of war, widespread destruction, and a collapsing healthcare system.

The ban doesn’t just affect the present—it also jeopardizes the progress of an intensive, seven-month-long vaccination campaign aimed at controlling the reemergence of polio, a disease that hadn’t appeared in Gaza for a quarter of a century until August 2024.

“The continued refusal to allow vaccines into Gaza is a deliberate act of harm against our children,” the statement read. “This blockade could unravel all the public health gains we’ve made over the last year and plunge us into a long-term crisis.”

A public health time bomb

The Israeli blockade of polio vaccines is more than just a political maneuver—it is a public health emergency with potentially irreversible consequences. After the first confirmed case of polio in 25 years was reported in August 2024, Gaza’s health authority, in coordination with United Nations agencies, initiated two rounds of mass vaccination.

These campaigns were considered a crucial response to contain the disease before it could spread further among the population. But now, with Israel blocking further vaccine deliveries, the entire initiative is on the brink of collapse.

Health officials are warning that if vaccines don’t reach the enclave soon, the region could see a resurgence of the disease, leading to widespread illness among children who are already vulnerable due to malnutrition and trauma from the ongoing war.

International silence and urgent appeals

The Gaza health authority has urgently called upon international organizations and global health bodies to pressure Israeli authorities to lift the vaccine ban. The request includes demands for guarantees of safe transport and distribution of medical supplies within the strip.

Despite the appeal, the international response has been muted. Aid workers and medical professionals say they are deeply concerned but remain limited in their ability to act due to the broader blockade and lack of access.

“This is a red-line issue. Blocking vaccines during a public health emergency is inexcusable,” said one UN official who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We’ve warned that denying children life-saving immunizations could amount to collective punishment.”

Healthcare on the brink of collapse

Dr. Yousef Abu al-Rish, a senior official in Gaza’s health authority, described the situation in the enclave as both “dangerous and dire.” According to Abu al-Rish, the entire medical system is nearing total collapse.

He revealed that 59 percent of essential medications and 37 percent of key medical supplies are currently unavailable. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and the lack of oxygen for critical care is putting countless lives at risk.

“We are operating beyond our limits. The doctors and nurses are exhausted. Supplies are vanishing. And now, we’re being told we can’t even protect our children from polio,” he said in a press briefing.

The health crisis has been further exacerbated by food shortages. With restrictions on the entry of food and humanitarian aid, malnutrition is surging among Gaza’s children.

“Thirteen thousand patients urgently need treatment outside Gaza. Meanwhile, 52 children have already died due to malnutrition. More will follow unless there is immediate international intervention,” Abu al-Rish added.

Children face growing threats

The Gaza polio vaccine crisis is just one of many threats facing children in the region. War, displacement, and starvation have created a perfect storm of suffering. The loss of access to vaccines comes as yet another cruel blow to families already struggling to survive.

Without immunizations, public health experts warn that Gaza could become a breeding ground for polio outbreaks—not just endangering local children but potentially threatening regional health security as well.

“If polio spreads unchecked in Gaza, it will not remain confined there,” said a spokesperson from a regional health watchdog. “This is not just a Gaza problem. It’s a global one.”

A call for accountability

Gaza’s health officials have also pointed to the legal implications of Israel’s actions, calling the vaccine blockade a violation of international humanitarian law.

Under the Geneva Conventions, occupying powers are required to ensure the welfare of the civilian population, including the provision of medical supplies. Denying access to vaccines during an outbreak, the health authority says, amounts to a breach of these obligations.

Rights groups and legal experts are now urging the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable, emphasizing that the consequences of inaction could be devastating.

A fragile hope

Despite the grim situation, Gaza’s health authorities continue to push for access to vaccines. Aid agencies remain on standby, waiting for the green light to resume distribution. Meanwhile, communities are rallying to support each other, sharing food, shelter, and emotional support in the absence of state or international aid.

Health workers on the ground continue their work despite enormous obstacles. Many of them have not been paid for months, yet they remain committed to caring for their patients—especially children.

“In the face of all this suffering, we still believe that compassion and action can win,” said one pediatrician working in a central Gaza hospital. “But we need help. We need vaccines. And we need them now.”

The fact that Israel blocks polio vaccines from Gaza underscores a disturbing escalation in the ongoing humanitarian crisis. With over 600,000 children at risk, the health system collapsing, and malnutrition spreading, Gaza stands on the edge of a catastrophe that can still be prevented—but only if swift and decisive action is taken.

The world cannot remain silent as the children of Gaza are denied their right to health and survival. The time to act is now.