UN experts warned that Israel’s offensive on Gaza will be “apocalyptic” for civilians, particularly persons with disabilities, who face aggravated consequences in the besieged enclave.

The experts stressed, “[P]eople with disabilities in Gaza are totally exhausted and traumatised. They face extreme difficulties fleeing – some people with mobility impairments are forced to crawl through rubble or be dragged on mattresses, while others face barriers in accessing information.”

According to the experts, civilians in Gaza have severely restricted access to essential supplies, medical equipment, and assistive devices since Israel has classified many of these as “dual-use” and barred them from entering the territory. Local disability organizations, they noted, are overwhelmed and unable to meet the rising needs.

The experts further stated that the violence unfolding in Gaza constitutes “a campaign of disablement—of people, resources, and infrastructure—to annihilate Palestinian life in Gaza.” With the escalating danger, persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. Their numbers have grown since 2023, leaving more people facing some of the harshest protection barriers.

Israel launched its Gaza offensive on Monday, following the approval in August of a plan to seize and occupy the city. The United Nations cautioned that this move risks “igniting another horrific chapter” in the conflict. Miroslav Jenca, the assistant secretary-general for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, also called for the unconditional release of all hostages and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid access to Gaza.

A UN-sponsored independent inquiry into Israel’s conduct in the Occupied Palestinian Territory reported that Israel has committed the international crime of genocide following its military operations in the Gaza Strip.