GAZA, January 12, 2026 (WAFA) – Health sources in Gaza warned of the spread of viruses believed to be mutated strains of influenza and COVID-19, amid a collapse in immunity among the population as a result of Israel’s ongoing starvation policy and the resulting malnutrition.

The sources said that hospitals are under unprecedented pressure, with bed occupancy exceeding 150 percent, at a time when vaccines are unavailable for vulnerable and marginalized groups, heightening the risk of wider transmission and an increase in critical cases.

They called for urgent measures to support the health sector and to provide vaccines and protection for the most vulnerable groups, stressing the need for international cooperation to prevent further deterioration of the health crisis in Gaza.

T.R.