The Israeli Ministry of Health has reported the detection of type 2 poliovirus in sewage samples from the Gaza Strip.

A report by a Dutch activist group highlights the catastrophic conditions in Gaza, where Palestinians are inundated with human waste due to the collapse of the waste collection system after months of deliberate attacks by the Israeli occupation on its infrastructure. PAX emphasizes that sustained bombings and the fuel blockade imposed by Israel have severely crippled the system, leaving hundreds of thousands of tons of waste uncollected.

Israeli forces have also blocked access to Gaza’s three official landfills, exacerbating the crisis further.

The report warns of a potential “chemical soup” forming from the uncollected waste, which threatens water sources, agricultural lands, and poses significant public health risks. The group underscores that if unresolved, this situation could lead to severe ecological and health crises, not only in Gaza but potentially across the entire region.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres: “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is a moral stain on all of us.”

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the “unacceptable death of innocent civilians,” stating that civilians, including women and children, “must be protected.” BUT STILL NO SANCTIONS IN SIGHT FROM AUSTRALIA OR GOVERNMENTS THAT CLAIM TO BE DEMOCRATIC