<\/p>\n
15 August 2025<\/p>\n
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. \u00a0Discussions focused on article 11 of the\u00a0Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities<\/a><\/em>, which addresses situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Based on this meeting, the Committee would provide recommendations to international organizations. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0It was hoped these would alleviate the suffering of persons with disabilities on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0There 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. \u00a0Ten children were losing one or both legs every day. \u00a0Gaza had become home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history, according to rights organizations.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0They formed part of nearly 9,000 civilians medically evacuated for severe injuries or chronic illnesses, accompanied by approximately 17,500 family members or carers. \u00a0While 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\u2019s borders.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Israel must do this under international law, the Rome Statute and article 11 of the Convention. \u00a0Jordan opposed the forced expulsion of Palestinians which was a flagrant violation of international law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing.<\/p>\n Hector Sharp, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said in 2024, the agency\u2019s 27 physiotherapists had conducted over 64,000 sessions, many delivered remotely, and in the first half of this year alone, over 53,000 sessions. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0This situation was compounded by the severe shortage of assistive devices in Gaza.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Discussions 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. \u00a0At the third meeting, which the Committee organised to engage in dialogue with representatives from Israel, none attended.<\/p>\n In the discussion, speakers, among other things, said disability was now a part of life for many Palestinians. \u00a0Some speakers said persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been deprived of rights and services. \u00a0They could not respond to alerts or warnings of military operations due to their disability. \u00a0Many persons with disabilities had been killed because their houses or shelters had been bombed and they had been unable to flee. \u00a0One 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. \u00a0The plight of vulnerable groups of persons with disabilities was raised by many speakers.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. \u00a0The programme of work of the Committee\u2019s thirty-third session and other documents related to the session can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n 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<\/a>).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Discussion with Civil Society Organizations<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Opening Remarks by the Coordinator of the Taskforce for the Dialogue<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Regrettably, no international entity had the authority to end this tragedy. \u00a0However, 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.<\/p>\n Based on this meeting, the Committee would provide recommendations to international organizations. \u00a0It also encouraged organizations of persons with disabilities to use these recommendations in their advocacy. \u00a0The Committee would focus on article 11 of the Convention, but all the articles of the Convention overlapped. \u00a0The obligations of occupying powers were mentioned in the preamble of the Convention.<\/p>\n Mr. Al-Azzeh expressed hope that the meeting would bring about reliable conclusions that could help persons in Gaza and the West Bank. \u00a0These regions were facing an unprecedented tragedy.<\/p>\n Discussion<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0They said disability was now a part of life for many Palestinians.<\/p>\n Some speakers said persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had been deprived of rights and services. \u00a0They could not respond to alerts or warnings of military operations due to their disability. \u00a0Many persons with disabilities had been killed because their houses or shelters had been bombed and they had been unable to flee. \u00a0The Israeli military had not provided advanced warnings of some attacks. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0One 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.<\/p>\n Concern was expressed regarding the inaccessibility of shelters for persons with disabilities and the inadequate representation of persons with disabilities in humanitarian activities. \u00a0Persons with disabilities were too often unable to access aid. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n It was also said that the international system had not been able to prevent what speakers called a \u201cgenocide\u201d in Gaza. \u00a0The United Nations\u2019 funding crisis had forced it to prioritise institutional survival over action. \u00a0One speaker said the World Health Organization had not prioritised support for persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n The plight of vulnerable groups of persons with disabilities was raised by many speakers. \u00a0One speaker said some 87 per cent of women with disabilities were not able to access hygienic products during menstruation. \u00a0Women 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. \u00a0Several children lost limbs daily, and children with disabilities had been separated from caregivers while fleeing, the speaker said.<\/p>\n One speaker said deaf people\u2019s lives and deaths in the Occupied Palestinian Territory were being ignored. \u00a0Since October 2023, at least 170 deaf Palestinians had been killed because there were no sign language alerts or visual warnings of attacks. \u00a0Schools for the deaf had been destroyed and blackouts had left deaf people cut off from accessible early warning messages about strikes. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n Several speakers said the Israeli Government had a systematic, premeditated policy of creating disability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0The rate of disability in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had risen by more than 60 per cent since the start of the war. \u00a0Some speakers also said the Israeli Government was carrying out a deliberate and systemic campaign of starvation. \u00a0People were dying not only because the healthcare system had been destroyed, but also because there was no food.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The whole world needed to hold Israel accountable for breaching international law. \u00a0All violations and attacks needed to be documented. \u00a0Israel needed to allow aid to enter unconditionally, stop attacks on health centres, and allow free movement for persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n Some speakers said all States providing weapons and other resources to the Israeli Government were also complicit in crimes against persons with disabilities. \u00a0They said Western Governments had failed to prevent the situation and had actively enabled it.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The war needed to be ended swiftly. \u00a0Humanitarian relief needed to include assistive devices for persons with disabilities, and health and education infrastructure needed to be rebuilt.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Ongoing efforts to develop a treaty on crimes against humanity needed to consider crimes against persons with disabilities, one speaker said. \u00a0Another speaker called on the Committee to issue a report on the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0Further, 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. \u00a0Some speakers called for a State of Palestine to be established with a government that could protect persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n Questions and Statements by Committee Experts<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The Committee had made exceptional efforts to bring in all parties and listen to them. \u00a0Israel, as the occupying power, had been invited but had not confirmed its attendance in the meeting.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0However, Israel was not a party to the Optional Protocol, making this article inapplicable for assessing Israeli actions.<\/p>\n The human rights system was not always able to prevent war and catastrophes, but that did not mean that the system was not working. \u00a0The International Court of Justice had issued legal decisions regarding the situation and the International Criminal Court arrest warrants. \u00a0The Committee worked within its mandate. \u00a0It 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.<\/p>\n MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue,<\/u>\u00a0thanked all those who participated in the meeting. \u00a0What specific actions should the Committee take to better respond to the specific problems of persons with disabilities living under occupation? \u00a0What were the long-term consequences of the war on persons with disabilities, particularly children? \u00a0How could the Committee prevent further devasting consequences for persons with disabilities? \u00a0How many assistive devices were needed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory?<\/p>\n REHAB MOHAMMED BORESLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, hailed the efforts of organizations of persons with disabilities to preserve the lives of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0The international community needed to redouble its efforts to tackle this situation. \u00a0A priority roadmap needed to be established to define the needs of persons with disabilities and mental health needs. \u00a0Israel needed to comply with its international obligations, particularly the fourth Geneva Convention. \u00a0There needed to be respect for institutions. \u00a0United assistance was needed. \u00a0Health workers and persons with disabilities needed protection. \u00a0Rehabilitation centres had been destroyed. \u00a0What was happening in refugee camps needed to be documented. \u00a0Schools and hospitals needed to be rebuilt. \u00a0The dignity of persons with disabilities needed to be guaranteed. \u00a0Medical support and food aid had been provided to Gazans, in spite of obstacles.<\/p>\n AMALIA GAMIO RIOS,\u00a0Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, expressed thanks to all participants who had provided extremely moving personal accounts. \u00a0The international community and the United Nations had not responded as they should to this situation. \u00a0The Committee had issued two statements on the crisis. \u00a0Israel was clearly ignoring what was being said by the United Nations and the rulings of the International Criminal Court. \u00a0The Committee was listening to the testimonies of persons with disabilities, and considering what it could do to bring this appalling situation to an end.<\/p>\n A Committee Expert said the number of persons with disabilities was increasing in the Occupied Palestinian Territory every day, as was the death toll. \u00a0This situation made his heart bleed; it needed to be addressed properly. \u00a0The world needed to come to the aid of the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0Whatever could be done to address this issue needed to be done. \u00a0The Expert expressed hope that the meeting would lead to a solution for addressing the situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n Another Committee Expert asked about the obligations of Hamas with respect to violations of the Convention. \u00a0The Expert called for a closed meeting to discuss procedural issues related to the meetings.<\/p>\n One Committee Expert said the Committee would make tireless efforts to make changes. \u00a0It needed to hear a variety of opinions related to the crisis. \u00a0Civil society was in a position to understand the situation on the ground. \u00a0The Committee needed to draw on its resources and stand up for persons with disabilities. \u00a0Civil society had created the Committee and the Convention. \u00a0It needed to provide innovative ideas; providing witness accounts was not enough. \u00a0Peace was crucial to allowing persons with disabilities to have a safe future.<\/p>\n Responses by Civil Society Organizations<\/u><\/p>\n Some speakers said the Committee should establish an investigative mechanism for serious human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. \u00a0It was able to do this as the State of Palestine was a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention. \u00a0Such a mechanism needed to be able to enter Gaza to conduct investigations; this had not happened yet.<\/p>\n One speaker said civil society organizations had expectations of the Committee. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0History would remember not only what was done in Gaza but also who stood silent and who acted.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0States parties that breached international law needed to be expelled from the Convention.<\/p>\n One speaker said the dialogue was focused on States parties, not liberation movements that were not parties to international conventions such as Hamas. \u00a0It was unclear why this question had been addressed to civil society organizations.<\/p>\n Comments by a Committee Expert<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Accountability mechanisms did not only apply to States parties. \u00a0Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court had included members of Hamas. \u00a0Had Hamas taken minimum measures regarding the situation of persons with disabilities? \u00a0Questions covered all parties and sought to reflect reality, framing it without politicisation.<\/p>\n Discussion with the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights<\/strong><\/p>\n Statement by the Coordinator of the Taskforce for the Dialogue<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0It was hoped these would alleviate the suffering of persons with disabilities on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza.<\/p>\n Statements by the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights<\/p>\n IBRAHIM KHRAISHI,\u00a0Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/u>, 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. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0These violations were tantamount to crimes against humanity and genocide against all the Palestinian population.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0In 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Since 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. \u00a0There 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. \u00a0Ten children were losing one or both legs every day. \u00a0Gaza had become home to the largest group of child amputees in modern history.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Hundreds 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0This 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. \u00a0However, despite the clarity and force of these resolutions and rulings, Israel, the occupying power, had not complied with them and continued to commit genocide.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Member States were called upon to hold the Israeli occupation authorities accountable for their crimes against the Palestinians. \u00a0The tragedy of persons with disabilities in Palestine was a direct result of the policies of the Israeli occupation. \u00a0Silence before such crimes was complicity.<\/p>\n DANIA DASOUQI,\u00a0First Secretary at the Permanent Observer Mission of State of Palestine to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/u>, 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. \u00a0Statistics 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. \u00a0United Nations reports indicated that people with disabilities in Gaza were more likely to be killed due to their inability to evacuate quickly. \u00a0Data from the United Nations Children\u2019s Fund indicated that more than 1,000 children had limbs amputated during the first three months of the aggression.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0More 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\u2019s Fund. \u00a0More 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. \u00a0Data indicated that more than 10,000 women had new disabilities due to the aggression and faced severe difficulty in accessing health care.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Psychological and social support sessions were also organised for children and women with disabilities, as well as food and medical support.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0On 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.<\/p>\n AMMAR DWAIK,\u00a0Director General, Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights<\/u>, 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. \u00a0An average of 15 children became disabled every day in Gaza, including approximately 10 who lost limbs daily. \u00a0Article 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0All these violations were taking place within the horrific contexts of genocide and apartheid. \u00a0The International Court of Justice had confirmed the plausibility of genocide in Gaza. \u00a0The international community could no longer remain silent in the face of such systematic crimes. \u00a0The recognition of genocide must trigger a shift from condemnation to prevention.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Statements and Questions by Committee Experts<\/strong><\/p>\n MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH,\u00a0Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue,<\/u>\u00a0asked about the obligations of the Palestinian Authority regarding people with disabilities in the current context. \u00a0What were the priorities of the Palestinian Authority? \u00a0To what extent had organizations of persons with disabilities been consulted regarding social services? \u00a0What concrete measures had been adopted to ensure people with disabilities had access to social services in cases of emergencies under the Palestinian Authority? \u00a0The figure of seven per cent of persons with disabilities prior to 7 October was surprising; could this figure be explained?<\/p>\n MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, asked what measures were in place to address mental health during the current conflict and during the post-conflict recovery phase? \u00a0What measures were in place to address additional challenges faced by persons with intellectual disabilities? \u00a0What kind of rehabilitation and psychological support were currently needed? \u00a0What measures were in place to ensure access to sexual and reproductive health care for women with disabilities inside and outside camps? \u00a0What protection pathways were available for women with disabilities who sought protection from gender-based violence? \u00a0How was education guaranteed for children with disabilities? \u00a0What measures were in place to prevent family separation and support families caring for children with disabilities? \u00a0Could the delegation estimate how many persons with disabilities were left behind by their families and stayed home alone unable to escape?<\/p>\n A Committee Expert asked what budget was allocated to guarantee access to persons with disabilities in emergency situations? \u00a0How were figures and statistics updated? \u00a0What did the State of Palestine expect from the Committee?<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n AMALIA GAMIO RIOS,\u00a0Committee Vice-Chair and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, asked what treatment was provided for people with psychosocial disabilities prior to the conflict? \u00a0Were they living in institutions? \u00a0What had happened to these people since the conflict broke out?<\/p>\n 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? \u00a0The State of Palestine had argued that Hamas was exercising effective control in Gaza before Israel invaded. \u00a0There was little information as to the contributions of Hamas to the violations faced by persons with disabilities in Palestine.<\/p>\n 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? \u00a0Was targeted information on the limited availability of food, shelter and care provided to persons with disabilities?<\/p>\n 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? \u00a0What were the measures taken on reasonable accommodation and legal measures? \u00a0What were the specific mechanisms to monitor specific violations inside the detention centres under the Palestinian Authority?<\/p>\n Responses by the State of Palestine and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0This figure did not account for those who had died from starvation, dehydration and lack of access to medical care. \u00a0Since 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. \u00a0As a result of these policies and practices, 90 per cent of the Gaza population had been internally displaced.<\/p>\n More than 28,000 new disability cases had been recorded in Gaza as of January 2025. \u00a0Attacks had contributed significantly to the growing population of persons with disabilities in Gaza. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0They were forced to abandon their homes and essential assistive devices, and shelters were not designed to accommodate them. \u00a0Malnutrition could be a direct cause of disability, particularly during critical stages of growth. \u00a0The catastrophic conditions facing persons with disabilities in Gaza demanded urgent and concerted international intervention.<\/p>\n Palestine was a State under occupation. \u00a0The context needed to be taken into consideration. \u00a0Laws had been passed which allowed for the free treatment of persons with disabilities in Palestine. \u00a0There had been a low prevalence of disability as much attention was given to this issue through the solidarity of community members. \u00a0Disability was a crucial issue for Palestinians, particularly the diaspora. \u00a0State of Palestine wanted the Committee to press Israel on how to comply with article 11 of the Convention. \u00a0It was hoped a ceasefire would be issued imminently. \u00a0With the genocidal war, the shelling, the daily killings, the destruction of infrastructure and the policy of starvation, children looked like skeletons. \u00a0They would be disabled in the near future. \u00a0The psychological state of people in Palestine would result in the development of new disabilities which were not even included in the Convention.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Cleaning of the 50 million tonnes of rubble would cause disabilities due to the amount of dust. \u00a0This was an unprecedented situation.<\/p>\n Discussion with Egypt and Jordan<\/strong><\/p>\n Statements by Egypt and Jordan<\/u><\/p>\n NORAN ATTEYA,\u00a0Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/u>, said regrettably the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was deepening by the day. \u00a0While the decision to admit affected individuals to a State party\u2019s 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\u2019s failure to fulfil its obligations under international law, while rejecting any attempt at their forcible displacement from their homeland. \u00a0Egypt had consistently facilitated the delivery of humanitarian assistance and organised safe, coordinated medical evacuations of those requiring urgent care. \u00a0This 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. \u00a0The majority of those medically evacuated to Egypt did not have pre-existing disabilities prior to the war. \u00a0Their impairments were the direct result of ongoing hostilities and deliberate targeting of civilian areas, including those sheltering children.<\/p>\n Between 1 November 2023 and 23 July 2025, Egypt had received more than 460 Palestinians with disabilities, the overwhelming majority of them amputees. \u00a0They formed part of nearly 9,000 civilians medically evacuated for severe injuries or chronic illnesses, accompanied by approximately 17,500 family members or carers. \u00a0While 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\u2019s borders. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0This 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. \u00a0Over those 21 months, Egypt\u2019s direct expenditure on disability-related and life-saving care had exceeded 578 million dollars. \u00a0Less than 10 per cent was covered by partner contributions, highlighting the scale of Egypt\u2019s commitment and the urgent need for greater international burden-sharing.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n MOHAMMAD ALAQEEL,\u00a0Minister Plenipotentiary of Jordan to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/u>, 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. \u00a0Civilians and people with disabilities must be protected. \u00a0Israel must do this under international law, the Rome Statute and article 11 of the Convention. \u00a0Jordan opposed the forced expulsion of Palestinians, which was a flagrant violation of international law and tantamount to ethnic cleansing. \u00a0It 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. \u00a0The absence of justice and protection for Palestinians was scandalous. \u00a0There 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.<\/p>\n Statements and Questions by Committee Experts<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH,\u00a0Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, said in Rafah there was a corridor which was a point of tension geopolitically speaking, bordering Gaza and Egypt. \u00a0Some 460 persons with disabilities had crossed into Egypt through this crossing point at Rafah; it was likely the real figure was higher. \u00a0It seemed that there were businesses that asked for fees from those fleeing Gaza and seeking refuge in Egypt. \u00a0Was this rumour true? \u00a0If so, people with disabilities would be most exposed to such practices. \u00a0Those who fled death, war or conflict needed to be able to find refuge in neighbouring countries. \u00a0How could these two principles be reconciled?<\/p>\n A Committee Expert said it was delicate for Egypt to deal with Palestinian refugees coming through the border crossing. \u00a0What was the Egyptian position to severely limit the number of people admitted? \u00a0The Expert said Jordan was also quite reluctant to open its borders to Palestinian refugees. \u00a0What was the rationale for this policy? \u00a0Could 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?<\/p>\n REHAB MOHAMMED BORESLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, said since 20 March, Palestinians with disabilities in Egypt had been deprived of benefits, including the right to education or to open bank accounts. \u00a0Why were refugees not given residency permits and full rights? \u00a0Why were fees imposed, around 5,000 dollars per person, to enter Egypt through the agency called Ya Halla (welcome)? \u00a0From 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. \u00a0Why was this?<\/p>\n MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, asked what kind of psychological support was provided for Palestinians in Egypt or Jordan? \u00a0Did the two States have programmes to address psychosocial requirements of Palestinian children with disabilities affected by displacement?<\/p>\n A Committee Expert asked how many people had been transferred from Egypt to third States? \u00a0Which third States were included? \u00a0Was this due to individual choice or part of a movement by Egypt due to restricted intake?<\/p>\n Responses<\/p>\n NORAN ATTEYA,\u00a0Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations Office at Geneva<\/u>, 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. \u00a0They were not part of any Egyptian Government process. \u00a0Egyptian authorities applied clear and transparent procedures for those evacuating from Gaza. \u00a0 \u00a0Such allegations about fees sought to minimise Egypt\u2019s 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. \u00a0Egypt was fully committed to the right to asylum. \u00a0However, 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.<\/p>\n Ms. Atteya said the specificity of the Palestinian cause needed to be highlighted. \u00a0It 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. \u00a0There had been no attempts to limit the number of Egyptians crossing from Gaza. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0Egypt 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.<\/p>\n The representative of Jordan thanked the Committee members for the important questions which would be sent to the competent Jordanian authorities.<\/p>\n A Palestinian member of a civil society organization said he was from Gaza and had been living in Egypt since 2023. \u00a0Egypt had been able to stop the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, which Israel was purporting. \u00a0He lived in Egypt with his family, had a bank account, and could travel inside and out of Egypt. \u00a0The Palestinians wanted to stay in Gaza. \u00a0It must be very clear, the issue was not about receiving refugees, but about stopping the crime of clear ethnic cleansing by Israel. \u00a0There were six crossings and Rafah was only one of them.<\/p>\n Discussion with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Statement by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/u><\/p>\n 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. \u00a0In 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. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0It had been destroyed.<\/p>\n Palestinian persons with disabilities faced great challenges in accessing humanitarian assistance. \u00a0New distribution arrangements through private companies had only made matters worse, placing aid out of reach for many persons with disabilities. \u00a0The agency noted with concern the growing number of life-altering injuries and the absence of adequate rehabilitation. \u00a0In 2024, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East\u2019s 27 physiotherapists conducted over 64,000 sessions, many delivered remotely, and in the first half of this year alone, over 53,000 sessions. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In Gaza, of the Agency\u2019s 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. \u00a0In the West Bank, persons with disabilities faced patterns of exclusion, compounded by militarised operations. \u00a0During 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. \u00a0Agency staff delivering disability-related services in the West Bank had also been obstructed. \u00a0The combined impact of these factors placed persons with disabilities in Gaza and the West Bank in a position of extreme vulnerability.<\/p>\n Statements and Questions by Committee Experts<\/u><\/p>\n MUHANNAD SALAH AL-AZZEH,\u00a0Committee Expert and Coordinator of the Taskforce for the dialogue,<\/u>\u00a0said 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. \u00a0There 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. \u00a0Did the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East conduct transparent and robust investigations into these allegations? \u00a0If yes, when was this and what was the result of these investigations? \u00a0Within 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? \u00a0Had any measures been taken to reach out to persons with disabilities who were unable to access aid? \u00a0Was there any communication or cooperation with the Gaza Humanitarian Fund?<\/p>\n MARA CRISTINA GABRILLI,\u00a0Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the dialogue<\/u>, thanked the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for all their hard work. \u00a0How many persons with disabilities were being treated by the agency currently? \u00a0How many wheelchairs or walkers and physical therapist were currently required?<\/p>\n Responses by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East<\/p>\n 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\u2019s neutrality. \u00a0The review had taken place to assess how the agency was doing everything to ensure its neutrality in response to the allegations of serious breaches. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East had been implementing the report\u2019s recommendations. \u00a0Reporting information had been requested from the State of Israel, but none had been supplied. \u00a0Several investigations had been closed.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0The agency had been systematically prevented from delivering this model and it disagreed that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation could fulfil the obligations required.<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0Since 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. \u00a0The 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. \u00a0They had been able to provide over 10,000 persons with disabilities with cash and food assistance in the first half of 2025. \u00a0The 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 15 August 2025 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. \u00a0Discussions focused on article 11 of the\u00a0Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which addresses situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. 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