Percentage of Persons with Disabilities in Gaza Has Increased because of Excessive Use of Force by Israel, State of Palestine Tells Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities today concluded a public dialogue on the situation of persons with disabilities affected by war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Discussions focused on article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which addresses situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies.
In opening remarks, Muhannad Salah Al-Azzeh, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said the present meeting sought to share as much information as possible about the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Based on this meeting, the Committee would provide recommendations to international organizations. The meeting also aimed to reach conclusions which could be used by the Committee to issue a report containing recommendations to guarantee a minimum level of safety for persons with disabilities and enable them to access aid. It was hoped these would alleviate the suffering of persons with disabilities on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.
Ibrahim Khraishi, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, the percentage of persons with disabilities had increased as a result of the excessive and premeditated use of force by the Israeli occupation forces, including arbitrary shelling of civilian areas. There was direct and targeted maiming by the occupation forces of lower and upper limbs; 4,800 amputations of limbs had been documented since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, with 76 per cent of those affecting the upper limbs and 24 per cent the lower limbs. Ten children were losing one or both legs every day. Gaza had become home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history, according to rights organizations.
Noran Atteya, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said, between 1 November 2023 and 23 July 2025, Egypt had received more than 460 Palestinians with disabilities, the overwhelming majority of them amputees. They formed part of nearly 9,000 civilians medically evacuated for severe injuries or chronic illnesses, accompanied by approximately 17,500 family members or carers. While 26 per cent of evacuees had been transferred to third countries, not a single one had been able to return home due to continued hostilities, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and the closure and occupation of Gaza’s borders.
Mohammad Alaqeel, Minister Plenipotentiary at the Permanent Mission of Jordan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said civilians and people with disabilities must be protected. Israel must do this under international law, the Rome Statute and article 11 of the Convention. Jordan opposed the forced expulsion of Palestinians which was a flagrant violation of international law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
Hector Sharp, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said in 2024, the agency’s 27 physiotherapists had conducted over 64,000 sessions, many delivered remotely, and in the first half of this year alone, over 53,000 sessions. The agency had managed to provide psychosocial support to more than 26,000 persons with disabilities, and assistive devices or rehabilitation services to approximately 8,500 individuals since the start of the conflict. This situation was compounded by the severe shortage of assistive devices in Gaza.
The Committee, over three meetings, held a discussion with civil society organizations, including organizations of persons with disabilities, on the situation of persons with disabilities affected by war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Discussions were then held with representatives of the State of Palestine, Egypt and Jordan, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. At the third meeting, which the Committee organised to engage in dialogue with representatives from Israel, none attended.
In the discussion, speakers, among other things, said disability was now a part of life for many Palestinians. Some speakers said persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been deprived of rights and services. They could not respond to alerts or warnings of military operations due to their disability. Many persons with disabilities had been killed because their houses or shelters had been bombed and they had been unable to flee. One speaker said some 92 per cent of persons with disabilities could not reach food or medication, and approximately 83 per cent had lost assistive devices, which massively increased their vulnerability. The plight of vulnerable groups of persons with disabilities was raised by many speakers.
Speaking in the discussion were the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, as well as the following non-governmental organizations: Palestinian General Federation for Persons with Disabilities; Palestinian Disability Coalition; Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities; Stars of Hope Society; Qader; Disability Justice for Palestine Collective; EJ-YMCA-Rehabilitation; Al-Haq Human Rights Organization; International Disability Alliance; Women Enabled International; Centre for Voters Initiative & Action; World Federation of the Deaf; and Human Rights Watch.
Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s thirty-third session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Monday, 18 August, at 10 a.m. to begin its examination of the initial report of Kiribati (CRPD/C/KIR/1).
Discussion with Civil Society Organizations
Opening Remarks by the Coordinator of the Taskforce for the Dialogue
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said the present meeting sought to share as much information as possible about the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Regrettably, no international entity had the authority to end this tragedy. However, shedding light on the plight of victims was the moral and legal obligation of all parties working in the field of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Based on this meeting, the Committee would provide recommendations to international organizations. It also encouraged organizations of persons with disabilities to use these recommendations in their advocacy. The Committee would focus on article 11 of the Convention, but all the articles of the Convention overlapped. The obligations of occupying powers were mentioned in the preamble of the Convention.
Mr. Al-Azzeh expressed hope that the meeting would bring about reliable conclusions that could help persons in Gaza and the West Bank. These regions were facing an unprecedented tragedy.
Discussion
In the discussion, speakers, among other things, expressed solidary with the Palestinian people, particularly those with disabilities affected by war in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. They said disability was now a part of life for many Palestinians.
Some speakers said persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been deprived of rights and services. They could not respond to alerts or warnings of military operations due to their disability. Many persons with disabilities had been killed because their houses or shelters had been bombed and they had been unable to flee. The Israeli military had not provided advanced warnings of some attacks. The war had caused the repeated displacement of persons with disabilities, who were forced to live in inappropriate shelters without any services or live in the streets. One speaker said some 92 per cent of persons with disabilities could not reach food or medication, and approximately 83 per cent had lost assistive devices, which massively increased their vulnerability.
Concern was expressed regarding the inaccessibility of shelters for persons with disabilities and the inadequate representation of persons with disabilities in humanitarian activities. Persons with disabilities were too often unable to access aid. The Committee needed to issue a strong recommendation to United Nations bodies and agencies to enhance the visibility of persons with disabilities and to stress the need for their involvement in humanitarian and recovery efforts.
It was also said that the international system had not been able to prevent what speakers called a “genocide” in Gaza. The United Nations’ funding crisis had forced it to prioritise institutional survival over action. One speaker said the World Health Organization had not prioritised support for persons with disabilities.
The plight of vulnerable groups of persons with disabilities was raised by many speakers. One speaker said some 87 per cent of women with disabilities were not able to access hygienic products during menstruation. Women and girls with disabilities had been routinely denied access to medical services, had faced sexual assault by Israeli forces, and had been forced to give birth without healthcare support. Several children lost limbs daily, and children with disabilities had been separated from caregivers while fleeing, the speaker said.
One speaker said deaf people’s lives and deaths in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were being ignored. Since October 2023, at least 170 deaf Palestinians had been killed because there were no sign language alerts or visual warnings of attacks. Schools for the deaf had been destroyed and blackouts had left deaf people cut off from accessible early warning messages about strikes. The speaker called for the creation of clear, accessible attack warnings; rebuilding of schools for the deaf; and the inclusion of organizations of deaf people in humanitarian efforts.
Several speakers said the Israeli Government had a systematic, premeditated policy of creating disability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The rate of disability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had risen by more than 60 per cent since the start of the war. Some speakers also said the Israeli Government was carrying out a deliberate and systemic campaign of starvation. People were dying not only because the healthcare system had been destroyed, but also because there was no food.
The Committee needed to remind Israel that it was an occupying power that needed to abide by the Geneva Conventions and other international law, many speakers said. The whole world needed to hold Israel accountable for breaching international law. All violations and attacks needed to be documented. Israel needed to allow aid to enter unconditionally, stop attacks on health centres, and allow free movement for persons with disabilities.
Some speakers said all States providing weapons and other resources to the Israeli Government were also complicit in crimes against persons with disabilities. They said Western Governments had failed to prevent the situation and had actively enabled it.
Many speakers called for an immediate ceasefire and compliance with article 11 of the Convention, an immediate end to the blockade on Gaza, and urgent measures to restore its healthcare system. The war needed to be ended swiftly. Humanitarian relief needed to include assistive devices for persons with disabilities, and health and education infrastructure needed to be rebuilt.
Speakers also asked the Committee to call for an end to all crimes that violated the rights of persons with disabilities, and to advocate for disability inclusion in every United Nations debate on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Ongoing efforts to develop a treaty on crimes against humanity needed to consider crimes against persons with disabilities, one speaker said. Another speaker called on the Committee to issue a report on the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Further, a speaker called on the Committee to create a Commission of Inquiry under its Optional Protocol to assess the situation of persons with disabilities on the ground in Gaza. Some speakers called for a State of Palestine to be established with a government that could protect persons with disabilities.
Questions and Statements by Committee Experts
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said the testimonies provided were very painful and hard to hear. The Committee had made exceptional efforts to bring in all parties and listen to them. Israel, as the occupying power, had been invited but had not confirmed its attendance in the meeting.
When the Committee had learned of grave violations, under article 16 of the Optional Protocol, it knew it had the ability to establish a committee to assess situations on the ground in parties to the Optional Protocol. However, Israel was not a party to the Optional Protocol, making this article inapplicable for assessing Israeli actions.
The human rights system was not always able to prevent war and catastrophes, but that did not mean that the system was not working. The International Court of Justice had issued legal decisions regarding the situation and the International Criminal Court arrest warrants. The Committee worked within its mandate. It would consider all statements that had been made when drafting its report, which it would use to increase pressure on the occupying power to put an end to all these crimes, particularly those against persons with disabilities.
MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, thanked all those who participated in the meeting. What specific actions should the Committee take to better respond to the specific problems of persons with disabilities living under occupation? What were the long-term consequences of the war on persons with disabilities, particularly children? How could the Committee prevent further devasting consequences for persons with disabilities? How many assistive devices were needed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory?
REHAB MOHAMMED BORESLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, hailed the efforts of organizations of persons with disabilities to preserve the lives of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The international community needed to redouble its efforts to tackle this situation. A priority roadmap needed to be established to define the needs of persons with disabilities and mental health needs. Israel needed to comply with its international obligations, particularly the fourth Geneva Convention. There needed to be respect for institutions. United assistance was needed. Health workers and persons with disabilities needed protection. Rehabilitation centres had been destroyed. What was happening in refugee camps needed to be documented. Schools and hospitals needed to be rebuilt. The dignity of persons with disabilities needed to be guaranteed. Medical support and food aid had been provided to Gazans, in spite of obstacles.
AMALIA GAMIO RIOS, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, expressed thanks to all participants who had provided extremely moving personal accounts. The international community and the United Nations had not responded as they should to this situation. The Committee had issued two statements on the crisis. Israel was clearly ignoring what was being said by the United Nations and the rulings of the International Criminal Court. The Committee was listening to the testimonies of persons with disabilities, and considering what it could do to bring this appalling situation to an end.
A Committee Expert said the number of persons with disabilities was increasing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory every day, as was the death toll. This situation made his heart bleed; it needed to be addressed properly. The world needed to come to the aid of the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Whatever could be done to address this issue needed to be done. The Expert expressed hope that the meeting would lead to a solution for addressing the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Another Committee Expert asked about the obligations of Hamas with respect to violations of the Convention. The Expert called for a closed meeting to discuss procedural issues related to the meetings.
One Committee Expert said the Committee would make tireless efforts to make changes. It needed to hear a variety of opinions related to the crisis. Civil society was in a position to understand the situation on the ground. The Committee needed to draw on its resources and stand up for persons with disabilities. Civil society had created the Committee and the Convention. It needed to provide innovative ideas; providing witness accounts was not enough. Peace was crucial to allowing persons with disabilities to have a safe future.
Responses by Civil Society Organizations
Some speakers said the Committee should establish an investigative mechanism for serious human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It was able to do this as the State of Palestine was a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention. Such a mechanism needed to be able to enter Gaza to conduct investigations; this had not happened yet.
One speaker said civil society organizations had expectations of the Committee. The Committee needed to recognise the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as a genocide, and to call for urgent protection measures and immediate entry of emergency supplies. History would remember not only what was done in Gaza but also who stood silent and who acted.
Another speaker said that the Committee needed to extend an invitation to civil society organizations to interpret the responsibilities of States parties under article 11 of the Convention. States parties that breached international law needed to be expelled from the Convention.
One speaker said the dialogue was focused on States parties, not liberation movements that were not parties to international conventions such as Hamas. It was unclear why this question had been addressed to civil society organizations.
Comments by a Committee Expert
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said that the question regarding Hamas was legitimate, as Hamas was the de-facto authority in Gaza. Accountability mechanisms did not only apply to States parties. Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court had included members of Hamas. Had Hamas taken minimum measures regarding the situation of persons with disabilities? Questions covered all parties and sought to reflect reality, framing it without politicisation.
Discussion with the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights
Statement by the Coordinator of the Taskforce for the Dialogue
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said the Committee had studied and documented the situation of persons with disabilities in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as these territories were currently facing a catastrophic situation, for all persons, particularly those with disabilities. The meeting aimed to reach conclusions which could be used by the Committee to issue a report containing recommendations to guarantee a minimum level of safety for persons with disabilities and enable them to access aid. It was hoped these would alleviate the suffering of persons with disabilities on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.
Statements by the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights
IBRAHIM KHRAISHI, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva, expressed regret that all members of the delegation were not able to participate in the dialogue in person, as a result of the restrictions imposed by the Israeli occupation authorities, including on the payment of salaries and withholding of basic services, in a form of collective punishment. The Israeli occupation continued to commit grave and systematic crimes and violations against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in flagrant violation of the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in particular the Geneva Conventions and the relevant United Nations resolutions. The recent period had witnessed an unprecedented escalation in Israeli attacks and violations that affected all facets of the lives of Palestinian civilians, including their right to life, personal security, human dignity, freedom, housing and access to food. These violations were tantamount to crimes against humanity and genocide against all the Palestinian population.
According to official sources, the ongoing genocidal war in the Gaza Strip had led to the killing of more than 61,000 Palestinians, including at least 18,000 children, in addition to wounding more than 152,000 Palestinians, with tens of thousands missing, mainly women and children. In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the crimes of the occupying forces and settler militias had led to the death of 1,029 Palestinians since the beginning of the war on the Gaza Strip, in addition to hundreds of cases of arbitrary arrest and torture, policies of repression and prohibition of movement, deprivation of basic services to civilians, and the destruction of refugee camps.
Prior to the outbreak of the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, persons with disabilities had constituted around 7 per cent of the population of Palestine. Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, the percentage of persons with disabilities had increased as a result of the excessive and premeditated use of force by the Israeli occupation forces, including arbitrary shelling of civilian areas. There was direct and targeted maiming by the occupation forces of lower and upper limbs; 4,800 amputations of limbs had been documented since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, with 76 per cent affecting the upper limbs and 24 per cent the lower limbs. Ten children were losing one or both legs every day. Gaza had become home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history.
The occupation also imposed a suffocating blockade, almost completely preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, including medicines, medical equipment, and assistive devices for persons with disabilities. Hundreds of wounded people had been denied access to prosthetics, wheelchairs and hearing aids, and spare parts for medical devices had been prevented from entering hospitals, causing preventable deaths.
Since the beginning of the genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the United Nations had issued important resolutions that reaffirmed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the blockade, and the protection of civilians. This was in addition to the interim precautionary measures issued by the International Court of Justice in the case filed by South Africa against Israel, in which the Court requested Israel, the occupying power, to immediately cease the genocide and to guarantee assistance and protection to civilians. However, despite the clarity and force of these resolutions and rulings, Israel, the occupying power, had not complied with them and continued to commit genocide.
The Committee were urged to clearly condemn the Israeli occupation's policies based on systematic destruction and leading to premeditated disabilities; provide urgent international protection for persons with disabilities and guarantee humanitarian access; hold the occupation accountable to international mechanisms; and compel Israel, as an occupying power, to immediately lift the blockade. Member States were called upon to hold the Israeli occupation authorities accountable for their crimes against the Palestinians. The tragedy of persons with disabilities in Palestine was a direct result of the policies of the Israeli occupation. Silence before such crimes was complicity.
DANIA DASOUQI, First Secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said since the start of the war, more than 61,000 people had been killed in Gaza, including 18,000 children and 12,400 women; more than 152,000 had been wounded, mostly women and children; and tens of thousands were missing, including people with special needs. Statistics indicated that there were more than 115,000 people with disabilities in Palestine, with more than 33,000 new cases of possible disability after the aggression, 56 per cent of which were mobility disabilities in Gaza. United Nations reports indicated that people with disabilities in Gaza were more likely to be killed due to their inability to evacuate quickly. Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund indicated that more than 1,000 children had limbs amputated during the first three months of the aggression.
Health facilities were directly targeted, which led to the destruction of more than 84 per cent of health facilities and 87 per cent of schools, the killing of dozens of specialists, and the suspension of rehabilitation centres, including the Nasser Medical Complex Centre. The occupation also prevented the entry of prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and basic medical supplies, which increased the disability, marginalisation, and psychological isolation of people with disabilities.
Statistics showed that 15.8 per cent of Gaza's children in 2025 suffered from a disability, while 3.2 per cent had suffered recent disabilities as a direct result of the aggression. More than 69 per cent of these children were out of school, more than 9,200 had lost limbs, and 90 per cent suffered from acute food poverty, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund. More than 320,000 children under the age of five were at risk of acute malnutrition, in addition to suffering from extensive trauma due to loss, shelling, displacement and loss of assistive devices. Data indicated that more than 10,000 women had new disabilities due to the aggression and faced severe difficulty in accessing health care.
Despite the catastrophic circumstances, the State of Palestine was making intensive efforts to protect and care for persons with disabilities, including through a protocol for shock-responsive social protection; establishing residential communities for the displaced; providing financial and medical assistance; and forming a special committee for the medical evacuation of children with amputations. Psychological and social support sessions were also organised for children and women with disabilities, as well as food and medical support.
The State of Palestine called for the activation of international accountability mechanisms and accountability of the perpetrators of violations against persons with disabilities; the obligation of Israel to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory; the formation of an independent international commission of inquiry; and the inclusion of the issue of persons with disabilities in peace negotiations and reconstruction plans. On the humanitarian front, there needed to be the provision of safe humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of persons with disabilities from conflict zones; the allocation of adequate resources to meet their needs in response plans; the funding of psychosocial support programmes; and the provision of assistive devices, prosthetics and rehabilitation services.
AMMAR DWAIK, Director General, Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights, said persons with disabilities in Gaza, especially children, women, older persons, and those with intellectual or multiple disabilities, were among the most vulnerable, facing heightened risks, deeper isolation, and severely limited means of survival. An average of 15 children became disabled every day in Gaza, including approximately 10 who lost limbs daily. Article 11 of the Convention was unambiguous: States parties must take all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including armed conflict and humanitarian emergencies.
Israel, a State party, had done the opposite, including targeting persons with disabilities with lethal force, denying them food, water and medical care, destroying facilities essential to their survival, and preventing the entry of life-saving assistive devices and medicines, among other violations. All these violations were taking place within the horrific contexts of genocide and apartheid. The International Court of Justice had confirmed the plausibility of genocide in Gaza. The international community could no longer remain silent in the face of such systematic crimes. The recognition of genocide must trigger a shift from condemnation to prevention.
The Committee was urged to formally recognise Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as contexts of genocide and apartheid, explicitly acknowledging the disproportionate impact on persons with disabilities; identify a clear pathway to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities in Gaza and Palestine were fully protected and promoted; hold all States parties accountable under article 11 of the Convention, the Genocide Convention, and the International Criminal Court of Justice advisory opinion for failing to prevent genocide and ensure protection for persons with disabilities; call on States to impose targeted, lawful measures on Israel until it ceased violations against persons with disabilities and the broader civilian population; establish an investigative mechanism, aligned with the Optional Protocol, to document and report on violations against persons with disabilities in the armed conflict, with Palestine as an urgent first case, and set clear timelines for reporting and accountability; and ensure disability-inclusive humanitarian response and reconstruction, with the direct participation of persons with disabilities at every stage of planning, decision-making, and implementation.
Statements and Questions by Committee Experts
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, asked about the obligations of the Palestinian Authority regarding people with disabilities in the current context. What were the priorities of the Palestinian Authority? To what extent had organizations of persons with disabilities been consulted regarding social services? What concrete measures had been adopted to ensure people with disabilities had access to social services in cases of emergencies under the Palestinian Authority? The figure of seven per cent of persons with disabilities prior to 7 October was surprising; could this figure be explained?
MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, asked what measures were in place to address mental health during the current conflict and during the post-conflict recovery phase? What measures were in place to address additional challenges faced by persons with intellectual disabilities? What kind of rehabilitation and psychological support were currently needed? What measures were in place to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health care for women with disabilities inside and outside camps? What protection pathways were available for women with disabilities who sought protection from gender-based violence? How was education guaranteed for children with disabilities? What measures were in place to prevent family separation and support families caring for children with disabilities? Could the delegation estimate how many persons with disabilities were left behind by their families and stayed home alone unable to escape?
A Committee Expert asked what budget was allocated to guarantee access to persons with disabilities in emergency situations? How were figures and statistics updated? What did the State of Palestine expect from the Committee?
Another Committee Expert asked how the Government was engaging organizations of women and girls with disabilities, so they were part of activities, services, policies and negotiations?
AMALIA GAMIO RIOS, Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, asked what treatment was provided for people with psychosocial disabilities prior to the conflict? Were they living in institutions? What had happened to these people since the conflict broke out?
A Committee Expert asked to what degree had the restrictions of neighbouring countries to let persons from Palestine cross their borders contributed to the horrific situation? The State of Palestine had argued that Hamas was exercising effective control in Gaza before Israel invaded. There was little information as to the contributions of Hamas to the violations faced by persons with disabilities in Palestine.
Another Committee Expert asked if there was the possibility to make efforts to prioritise the receival by persons with disabilities of the limited humanitarian aid available? Was targeted information on the limited availability of food, shelter and care provided to persons with disabilities?
REHAB MOHAMMED BORESLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, asked what executive and legislative measures were taken to guarantee access to justice for persons with disabilities? What were the measures taken on reasonable accommodation and legal measures? What were the specific mechanisms to monitor specific violations inside the detention centres under the Palestinian Authority?
Responses by the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights
In response, speakers, among other things, said between 7 October 2023 and yesterday, attacks by the Israeli military had resulted in the deaths of 61,000 Palestinians. This figure did not account for those who had died from starvation, dehydration and lack of access to medical care. Since 2 March, Israeli officials had imposed a devastating siege on Gaza, deliberately obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid, including medicine, water, food and fuel, creating the conditions for famine. As a result of these policies and practices, 90 per cent of the Gaza population had been internally displaced.
More than 28,000 new disability cases had been recorded in Gaza as of January 2025. Attacks had contributed significantly to the growing population of persons with disabilities in Gaza. The practices of repeated displacement orders had had a harmful impact on persons with disabilities; they were often placed in a situation where their right to safe evacuation was denied. They were forced to abandon their homes and essential assistive devices, and shelters were not designed to accommodate them. Malnutrition could be a direct cause of disability, particularly during critical stages of growth. The catastrophic conditions facing persons with disabilities in Gaza demanded urgent and concerted international intervention.
Palestine was a State under occupation. The context needed to be taken into consideration. Laws had been passed which allowed for the free treatment of persons with disabilities in Palestine. There had been a low prevalence of disability as much attention was given to this issue through the solidarity of community members. Disability was a crucial issue for Palestinians, particularly the diaspora. State of Palestine wanted the Committee to press Israel on how to comply with article 11 of the Convention. It was hoped a ceasefire would be issued imminently. With the genocidal war, the shelling, the daily killings, the destruction of infrastructure and the policy of starvation, children looked like skeletons. They would be disabled in the near future. The psychological state of people in Palestine would result in the development of new disabilities which were not even included in the Convention.
There had been some incidents in the territories concerning violations by Palestinians; the delegation had not heard of children being detained but would follow-up with relevant authorities. Cleaning of the 50 million tonnes of rubble would cause disabilities due to the amount of dust. This was an unprecedented situation.
Discussion with Egypt and Jordan
Statements by Egypt and Jordan
NORAN ATTEYA, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said regrettably the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was deepening by the day. While the decision to admit affected individuals to a State party’s territory was a sovereign decision, Egypt had consistently chosen to exercise its sovereignty to save lives, to admit and treat Palestinian civilians who were medically evacuated from Gaza, given Israel’s failure to fulfil its obligations under international law, while rejecting any attempt at their forcible displacement from their homeland. Egypt had consistently facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance and organised safe, coordinated medical evacuations of those requiring urgent care. This effort had continued until the destruction of the Rafah crossing by Israel in May 2024, and resumed on 1 February 2025 after the first ceasefire in January. The majority of those medically evacuated to Egypt did not have pre-existing disabilities prior to the war. Their impairments were the direct result of ongoing hostilities and deliberate targeting of civilian areas, including those sheltering children.
Between 1 November 2023 and 23 July 2025, Egypt had received more than 460 Palestinians with disabilities, the overwhelming majority of them amputees. They formed part of nearly 9,000 civilians medically evacuated for severe injuries or chronic illnesses, accompanied by approximately 17,500 family members or carers. While 26 per cent of evacuees had been transferred to third countries, not a single one had been able to return home due to continued hostilities, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and the closure and occupation of Gaza’s borders. The injuries included limb amputations, paralysis from spinal or skull fractures, severe blast injuries, eye injuries causing blindness, burns impairing mobility, and hearing loss from explosions.
From the earliest days of the crisis, Egypt had activated a multi-phase, nationwide emergency plan to receive injured civilians, including persons with disabilities, which expanded over 17 months to more than 300 hospitals across 26 governorates. This included 150 ambulances stationed at the border; over 13,000 hospital beds; nearly 1,500 quarantine clinics; and over 60,000 medical staff trained in complex trauma care and rehabilitation. Over those 21 months, Egypt’s direct expenditure on disability-related and life-saving care had exceeded 578 million dollars. Less than 10 per cent was covered by partner contributions, highlighting the scale of Egypt’s commitment and the urgent need for greater international burden-sharing.
The message from the Committee must be unequivocal: it must denounce the atrocities being perpetrated in Gaza; hold Israel accountable for its persistent violations of international humanitarian and human rights law; and call on all States parties to press for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, and expand support for accessible health care and rehabilitation, inclusive protection mechanisms for persons with disabilities affected by the war in Gaza, and exert pressure on Israel to ensure that humanitarian assistance was safe and unimpeded, including through all available crossings.
MOHAMMAD ALAQEEL, Minister Plenipotentiary of Jordan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, thanked the Committee for the efforts taken to try and protect persons with disabilities and for putting the spotlight on people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Civilians and people with disabilities must be protected. Israel must do this under international law, the Rome Statute and article 11 of the Convention. Jordan opposed the forced expulsion of Palestinians, which was a flagrant violation of international law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing. It was vital to see the international community react to protect the rights of persons with disabilities and put an end to the barbaric war which was destroying Gaza. The absence of justice and protection for Palestinians was scandalous. There needed to be an end to the flagrant violations of international law perpetrated by Israel and an end to the violations against civilians, civilian infrastructure and places of worship.
Statements and Questions by Committee Experts
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said in Rafah there was a corridor which was a point of tension geopolitically speaking, bordering Gaza and Egypt. Some 460 persons with disabilities had crossed into Egypt through this crossing point at Rafah; it was likely the real figure was higher. It seemed that there were businesses that asked for fees from those fleeing Gaza and seeking refuge in Egypt. Was this rumour true? If so, people with disabilities would be most exposed to such practices. Those who fled death, war or conflict needed to be able to find refuge in neighbouring countries. How could these two principles be reconciled?
A Committee Expert said it was delicate for Egypt to deal with Palestinian refugees coming through the border crossing. What was the Egyptian position to severely limit the number of people admitted? The Expert said Jordan was also quite reluctant to open its borders to Palestinian refugees. What was the rationale for this policy? Could both delegations provide explanations in light of article 1 of the Convention on genocide which obligated preventive measures to be provided by States parties in situations of genocide?
REHAB MOHAMMED BORESLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said since 20 March, Palestinians with disabilities in Egypt had been deprived of benefits, including the right to education or to open bank accounts. Why were refugees not given residency permits and full rights? Why were fees imposed, around 5,000 dollars per person, to enter Egypt through the agency called Ya Halla (welcome)? From the beginning of the war, Jordan did not allow anyone from Gaza to receive a visa except for a few patients evacuated for medical purposes. Why was this?
MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, asked what kind of psychological support was provided for Palestinians in Egypt or Jordan? Did the two States have programmes to address psychosocial requirements of Palestinian children with disabilities affected by displacement?
A Committee Expert asked how many people had been transferred from Egypt to third States? Which third States were included? Was this due to individual choice or part of a movement by Egypt due to restricted intake?
Responses
NORAN ATTEYA, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva, responding to questions, said there were private companies located on the other side of the Rafah crossing which offered services for fees to Palestinians who chose to use them. They were not part of any Egyptian Government process. Egyptian authorities applied clear and transparent procedures for those evacuating from Gaza. Such allegations about fees sought to minimise Egypt’s substantial and sustained efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and to exert political pressures to accept the forceful displacement of the Palestinians, a policy that Egypt categorically rejected. Egypt was fully committed to the right to asylum. However, what was happening in Gaza was the results of the forceful displacement and massive expulsion of Palestinians, against the will of the inhabitants of Gaza.
Ms. Atteya said the specificity of the Palestinian cause needed to be highlighted. It was ironic that the right of obligation of asylum was being invoked, considering Israel had not been assigned even the least responsibility with response to asylum. There had been no attempts to limit the number of Egyptians crossing from Gaza. The Egyptian gate had never been closed but the closure of the Palestinian gate occupied and targeted by Israeli forces prevented the entry of aid and the evacuation of Palestinians. Egypt had been working to ensure the inclusion of evacuated Palestinian children in education programmes, including a programme which helped 14,000 Palestinian children access education resources.
The representative of Jordan thanked the Committee members for the important questions which would be sent to the competent Jordanian authorities.
A Palestinian member of a civil society organization said he was from Gaza and had been living in Egypt since 2023. Egypt had been able to stop the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, which Israel was purporting. He lived in Egypt with his family, had a bank account, and could travel inside and out of Egypt. The Palestinians wanted to stay in Gaza. It must be very clear, the issue was not about receiving refugees, but about stopping the crime of clear ethnic cleansing by Israel. There were six crossings and Rafah was only one of them.
Discussion with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Statement by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
HECTOR SHARP, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said the most immediate protection risks faced by persons with disabilities in Gaza spoke directly to the conduct of hostilities. In addition to the staggering loss of civilian life, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including the schools and health facilities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, was without parallel compared to previous Gaza conflicts. The agency had previously operated the Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired since 1962, which provided eye screenings, rehabilitation, education, and academic integration programmes to approximately 500 visually impaired children at any one time. It had been destroyed.
Palestinian persons with disabilities faced great challenges in accessing humanitarian assistance. New distribution arrangements through private companies had only made matters worse, placing aid out of reach for many persons with disabilities. The agency noted with concern the growing number of life-altering injuries and the absence of adequate rehabilitation. In 2024, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East’s 27 physiotherapists conducted over 64,000 sessions, many delivered remotely, and in the first half of this year alone, over 53,000 sessions. The agency had managed to provide psychosocial support to more than 26,000 persons with disabilities, and assistive devices or rehabilitation services to approximately 8,500 individuals since the start of the conflict.
This situation was compounded by the severe shortage of assistive devices in Gaza. Restrictions on their entry by Israel meant that items such as wheelchairs, prosthetic and orthotic materials, hearing devices, and even basic batteries and spare parts were in critically short supply.
In Gaza, of the Agency’s 22 health centres, only two health centres remained operational as of 30 July, limiting access to physical rehabilitation, as well as maternal and child health, mental health, school health, and other essential services. In the West Bank, persons with disabilities faced patterns of exclusion, compounded by militarised operations. During large-scale Israeli security force operations, mobility limitations, reliance on caregivers, and loss of assistive devices could make timely evacuation impossible, placing lives at immediate risk. Agency staff delivering disability-related services in the West Bank had also been obstructed. The combined impact of these factors placed persons with disabilities in Gaza and the West Bank in a position of extreme vulnerability.
Statements and Questions by Committee Experts
MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH, Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue, said the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East was between a rock and a hard place, and had been significantly criticised during the conflict. There were clear allegations from Israel to Gaza that workers in the field were part of Hamas, which was the main reason Israel had banned the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East from working in Gaza. Did the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East conduct transparent and robust investigations into these allegations? If yes, when was this and what was the result of these investigations? Within the limited resources, how did the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East ensure that food and medication reached persons with disabilities? Had any measures been taken to reach out to persons with disabilities who were unable to access aid? Was there any communication or cooperation with the Gaza Humanitarian Fund?
MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue, thanked the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for all their hard work. How many persons with disabilities were being treated by the agency currently? How many wheelchairs or walkers and physical therapist were currently required?
Responses by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
HECTOR SHARP, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, responding to questions, said an independent review had been announced in January last year following the allegations from Israel regarding the agency’s neutrality. The review had taken place to assess how the agency was doing everything to ensure its neutrality in response to the allegations of serious breaches. The report was issued in April 2024, which noted that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East had established procedures over many years to ensure neutrality, but acknowledged there was always room to improve. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East had been implementing the report’s recommendations. Reporting information had been requested from the State of Israel, but none had been supplied. Several investigations had been closed.
For 75 years, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East had had a holistic relief scheme in responding to the crisis and ensured aid was delivered to all Palestinians wherever they were. The agency had been systematically prevented from delivering this model and it disagreed that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation could fulfil the obligations required.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East had 19 mobile health clinics that were able to reach populations outside the two operating health centres. Since 2 March, the agency had been prevented from bringing aid into Gaza and stocks of flour and food ran out in April this year, so the agency could not deliver aid to people remotely or at distribution points. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East remained the largest provider of healthcare in the Gaza Strip today, providing thousands of health sessions each day. They had been able to provide over 10,000 persons with disabilities with cash and food assistance in the first half of 2025. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East called for access into the Gaza Strip of medical devices, medicines and food.
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