The ongoing Israel-Hamas war already killed tens of thousands of innocent civilians. But, it looks like the missile attacks are not the biggest killer in this conflict.
The World Health Organization warned that the spread of infectious disease could be deadlier than aerial strikes during the Israel-Hamas battle.
This was shared by a WHO spokesperson on Tuesday, Nov. 28. In his warning, he pointed out the health system in the Gaza Strip, which already collapsed after Israel conducted its attack on the Al-Shifa Hospital.
Who Claims Israel-Hamas War Biggest Killer Could Be Disease
According to Fox News' latest report, the Israel-Hamas war created a public health crisis in the Gaza Strip. They warned that this problem could further increase the death toll, especially if the health system in the region is not restored.
Previously, Gaza's Health Ministry announced that more than 13,300 Palestinians have been killed ever since the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists began.
WHO officials also fear that if water remains scarce and shelters are not reconstructed, the spread of infectious disease could worsen.
"Eventually we will see more people dying from the disease than we are even seeing from the bombardment if we are not able to put back (together) this health system," said WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris.
She explained that the lack of sanitation, water supplies, and medical access could expose displaced Palestinians to epidemics as they are forced to take shelter in camps and cramped homes.
"(There are) no medicines, no vaccination activities, no access to safe water and hygiene and no food. We saw a very high number of cases of diarrhea among infants," further stated Harris.
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Diseases at Risk of Spreading in Gaza
ABC News reported that the diseases that could spread in the Gaza Strip include diarrheal illness and cholera. The World Health Organization warned that if these diseases start infecting more people, deaths could increase within hours.
ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton expressed his concerns, saying that Palestinians not only have to protect themselves and their families from aerial missile attacks, but they also have to deal with the spread of diseases.
WHO Gaza representative Richard Peeperkorn also warned that the health crisis in the Gaza Strip will only get worse in the near future as the war continues.
"We are extremely concerned about the spread of disease when the winter season arrives," he said.
