Israeli aggression on Gaza continues in its sixth month, leading to devastating loss of life and property in the Palestinian enclave. Despite efforts by regional and other players, a ceasefire agreement couldn’t be reached for the holy month of Ramadan, which got underway earlier this week.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s unrelenting assault has killed 31,184 people in the Gaza Strip, majority of whom are women and children. Over 72,000 have also been injured in the Israeli offensive. Many more are believed to be buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, with the collapse of most of civil defence system in the territory.
Despite hectic efforts by the State of Qatar and some other countries for a ceasefire before Ramadan, an agreement couldn’t be reached between the two sides. Efforts to stop the war through the United Nations Security Council have also been blocked by the United States. It is unfortunate that the world seems so helpless to stop this humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Gaza Strip.
A quarter of Gaza’s population is starving, according to the United Nations, because they cannot find or afford enough food. Aid groups say it is nearly impossible to deliver aid in much of Gaza because of Israeli restrictions, ongoing hostilities and the breakdown of order. Conditions are especially dire in northern Gaza, which has suffered widespread devastation and has been largely cut off by Israeli forces since October. Up to 300,000 Palestinians are believed to have remained there despite Israeli evacuation orders, with many reduced to eating animal feed in recent weeks, the Associated Press reported.
Qatar has been at the forefront of efforts to achieve ceasefire and increase the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. The state has so far dispatched 85 planes to Al Arish in Egypt near the Gaza border to deliver aid for Palestinians in Gaza.
Doha said it also supports the proposals of delivering aid through a sea corridor, but said the sea route should complement and not be an alternate to the land route for aid delivery. Qatar also continues its efforts for ceasefire despite hurdles and a complex situation on the ground.
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed the Gaza situation and ceasefire efforts during his meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs H E Barbara Leaf in Doha yesterday. They also discussed efforts by Qatar and the US for continued delivery of aid into Gaza.
