Medical research ethics in active war and conflict zones: the case of Gaza

In the chaos of conflict zones like Gaza, medical research ethics faces unprecedented challenges. The traditional pillars of informed consent and institutional review boards (IRB) oversight often crumble under the weight of humanitarian crises, delaying data collection essential for care and the research that underpins it. This commentary builds on initiatives for an adaptive model: verbal consent in lieu of written forms, active partnerships with local medical staff, the suspension of requiring automatic prospective registration in emergencies, and oversight committees blending local and international expertise whenever needed to monitor and guide research. Grounded in international legal precedents like the Fourth Geneva Convention and the ICCPR, this working model balances the urgency of lifesaving research with the need for ethical accountability. Safeguards such as anonymized data, community engagement, and retrospective reviews ensure integrity while enabling essential studies on paediatric health, maternal mortality, and public health crises.