Gaza Ministry of Health Director General Munir al-Bursh stated that approximately 2 thousand buildings damaged in Israeli attacks could collapse at any time, and that military attacks in the region, as well as worsening housing and health conditions and heavy rains, caused loss of life, and described the process as "silent genocide".
Burş, in his statement to AA correspondent regarding the latest situation in the Gaza Strip, stated that Palestinians are struggling to survive in unprecedented and severe humanitarian conditions.
Reminding that a pregnant woman and 3 children lost their lives and 2 people were seriously injured as a result of the sandbar collapsing on the tents where displaced Palestinians stayed in the city of Deyr al-Belah in the central part of the Gaza Strip, Burş emphasized that there were great impossibilities even in transporting the bodies for burial.
Stating that ambulance services were disrupted due to Israeli restrictions and lack of fuel, Burş said that they had difficulty in finding vehicles to transport the bodies of those who lost their lives from south to north for burial.
Summing up the picture in the region, Burş said, "Gaza was drowned in rainwater as well as drowned in blood." he said.
Emphasizing that international organizations' talk of a healing process in Gaza is incompatible with the humanitarian reality on the ground, Burş called for humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials to be allowed to enter the region and for permanent housing solutions to be provided for Palestinians.
Rain left 70 thousand tents under water
Stating that the destruction caused by the rains shows once again how fragile the infrastructure in Gaza is, Burş said that even a limited amount of rain turns into a large-scale disaster within hours.
Burş emphasized that the first low pressure system that affected Gaza left 70 thousand tents under water within 12 hours and 350 thousand forcibly displaced Palestinians were completely exposed.
Criticizing the portrayal of the current situation as an improvement, the Palestinian official underlined the need to urgently open the border gates, deliver construction materials and produce concrete solutions for the people.
Approximately 2 thousand buildings may collapse at any time
Pointing out that the structures that were heavily damaged in Israel's air and land attacks are at great risk, Burş said, "Approximately 2 thousand buildings that were damaged in Israel's previous attacks could collapse at any moment and fall on the Palestinians living in them." he warned.
Burş stated that families who cannot leave their homes have to stay in these structures despite the danger to their lives because they cannot find an alternative shelter or tent.
"Israel keeps tents waiting at border gates and only allows a limited number of tents to enter Gaza." Burş emphasized that the housing crisis opens the door to new disasters and that safe and portable housing and construction materials should be brought to the region urgently.
Rainwater mixes with sewage, the risk of epidemics increases
Stating that the collapse of infrastructure and sewage networks threatens public health, Burş said that the mixing of rainwater with wastewater paves the way for the spread of epidemic diseases, especially among babies and children.
Burş said, "Children and babies are vulnerable to intestinal infections and various diseases because their bodies cannot be kept warm enough." he said.
Warning that mass epidemics will be inevitable if the current poor housing conditions continue, Burş emphasized that the public should be protected by starting a real reconstruction process.
Israel continues restrictions on medicine, medical supplies and fuel
Stating that the healthcare system in Gaza is on the verge of collapse, Burş stated that Israel systematically blocks the entry of medicine, medical equipment, construction materials and fuel, and that the symbolic amounts allowed are far from meeting the huge needs.
Noting that the fuel crisis has made ambulance fleets inoperable and that there is serious difficulty in transporting patients and injured people, Burş said, "Israel restricts everything and only allows the entry of a very small amount of material." he said.
“Palestinians are dying silently from lack of medicine, floods, sand collapses.”
Criticizing international organizations' description of the conditions in Gaza as improving, Burş said that these statements do not reflect the realities that Palestinians face in daily life.
Burş said, "The truth is that there is a silent genocide going on in Gaza. In addition to being directly killed, people also die silently due to lack of medicine, sandbars collapsing on them or rainwater. The means that cause death change, but the result does not change." he said.
Stating that the primary responsibility for the loss of children's lives and suffering belongs to Israel and the international community that turned a blind eye to this, Burş criticized that no concrete steps were taken to prevent the disaster.
Burş said, "Today we are talking about a silent genocide in Gaza. The world sees this but remains silent." he said.
Israel continues genocide despite ceasefire
Israel continues its attacks and violations despite the ceasefire in Gaza that came into force on October 10, 2025. According to official data, 1613 Palestinians have lost their lives and 5,833 people have been injured in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire.
In the large-scale attacks launched by Israel on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, more than 74 thousand Palestinians lost their lives and more than 175 thousand people were injured. The attacks caused heavy destruction to approximately 90 percent of civilian infrastructure in the region.
