In times of war, the most visible destruction often captures the headlines—bombed buildings, lost lives, displaced families. But there is another, quieter crisis that unfolds beneath those headlines: the experience of people with disabilities, especially those who lived with them long before the first missile fell.

In Gaza, where a collapsed humanitarian system is layered over years of siege and neglect, individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities are enduring the unendurable. Many cannot evacuate in time when sirens wail. Shelters—when they exist—are almost never accessible. Essential items like wheelchairs, catheters, or hearing aids are lost, broken, or left behind. According to Humanity & Inclusion, tens of thousands of disabled civilians face life-threatening conditions in overcrowded shelters that lack ramps, accessible toilets, or medical supplies. In one tragic case reported by The Guardian, a young man with cerebral palsy was killed after being left behind during a military raid—his disability making escape impossible.

In Israel, while infrastructure is more developed, the needs of civilians with disabilities often become secondary during national mobilization. Most media coverage focuses on wounded soldiers receiving elite rehabilitation services, but people with pre-existing disabilities face rising neglect. While organizations like Shalva continue to provide some community support, the long-term risk is that resources will continue shifting toward military needs, squeezing out those with civilian disabilities.

In Iran, which is not on the frontlines but plays a central role in the regional conflict, people with disabilities are contending with decades of neglect worsened by sanctions and inflation. War veterans with disabilities are prioritized for care, while civilians living with conditions like cerebral palsy, MS, or congenital conditions are often excluded from meaningful state support. Government pensions for those with severe disabilities can be as low as $16/month. Despite laws mandating accessibility and social inclusion, enforcement remains lax, and recent protests by disabled Iranians have been met with silence—or force.

Your Thoughts

This topic matters deeply because it highlights a persistent oppression that continues to unfold around the world—and it’s spreading, involving more countries every day. If a similar crisis ever came closer to home, the hope is that the government would be prepared to protect and care for people with disabilities more effectively than what’s been seen in these conflict zones.

One story that truly stayed with me is about a young man with cerebral palsy who was killed after being left behind during a military raid in Gaza. As someone who also lives with cerebral palsy, that hit very close to home. It’s difficult not to imagine myself in his position, hoping someone would make sure I was safe. Sadly, his death didn’t seem to result solely from the conflict itself, but from a lack of adequate policy and planning to evacuate and protect disabled civilians. This raises a painful question: how many lives are lost because systems fail to see or prepare for people like us?

To those who say, “This isn’t our problem,” I’d ask: what happens when it is? If we ignore the suffering of people with disabilities elsewhere, how can we expect the international community to show compassion if the crisis reaches us? Solidarity should transcend borders. We must stand together as a national and global community, supporting the most vulnerable wherever they are.

I won’t pretend to fully understand what it’s like to live in an active war zone—that’s not my reality. But even from afar, it’s clear that small, practical changes could save lives. The very first thing I would push for is ensuring that all designated safe zones—shelters, emergency centers, hospitals—have ramps and basic accessibility features. This is not a luxury, but a necessity. Adding ramps and improving access isn’t complicated or prohibitively expensive; it’s a minimum standard of care that should be met, especially in emergencies.

After learning about these struggles, I’m left feeling frustrated and deeply disappointed. People with disabilities deserve the same priority and respect as everyone else—especially in times of crisis. Equal rights shouldn’t be negotiable or an afterthought; they should be the foundation of how we respond as a society. It’s unacceptable that in moments when lives are at stake, disabled people continue to be sidelined or forgotten.

A Question to Consider

If we can’t come together to protect and include the most vulnerable during moments of conflict and crisis—when lives are at stake and humanity is laid bare—then when can we?

My Sources

    •    Humanity & Inclusion (2024) – People with Disabilities in Gaza: Forgotten in the Crossfire (https://www.hi.org)

    •    The Guardian (July 2024) – “Shellshocked, Attacked, Left to Die: The Reality for Disabled People in Gaza”

    •    Reuters (August 2024) – “New Gaza Camp Offers Relief to Palestinians with Disabilities Amid War”

    •    Time Magazine (2024) – “People With Disabilities in Gaza Face Additional Barriers in the Israel-Hamas War”

    •    Amnesty International (2023–2024) – Reports on Disability Rights in Iran (https://www.amnesty.org)

    •    Shalva Israel (2024) – Disability Services and Support Programs (https://shalva.org)