When Public Health Becomes the Weapon: Current and Prospective Consequences of the Genocide in Gaza

ABSTRACT Catastrophic humanitarian conditions during the 2023–2025 genocide in Gaza have caused a public health crisis of exceptional magnitude. This article summarizes key short‐ and long‐term health consequences for Gaza's civilian population and outlines priorities for recovery. Given severe constraints on data collection, we triangulate evidence from peer‐reviewed research and reports from the World Health Organization, United Nation humanitarian agencies and humanitarian and human‐rights organizations. The analysis is organized across key domains reflecting the progressive collapse of public health in Gaza: destruction of health systems and supporting infrastructure; mass casualties, injuries and physical trauma; food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition; displacement, shelter conditions and communicable diseases; systematic sexual, reproductive and other gender‐based violence; and widespread mental health and psychosocial trauma. We then examine the lasting physical, mental, social and environmental burdens, as well as the health system challenges likely to shape population health for generations. We call for action to mitigate the enduring public health burden of the genocide and ongoing occupation.