After more than a year and a half of a brutal offensive and siege by the Israeli military, the Gaza Strip stands at a critical juncture today, with people starving and patients dying for lack of food and supplies waiting at the border. Israel’s renewed military offensive coupled with a complete blockade of all aid has piled misery for Gaza’s population of over two million.
Gazans continue to die in dozens daily amid continued Israeli bombing and ground operations. At least 53,655 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s health ministry. At least 3,509 of these victims have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, following a breakdown in ceasefire negotiations.
After mounting global pressure, Israel said 93 aid trucks had entered Gaza on Tuesday but faced accusations the amount fell far short of what was required. The United Nations said the aid had been held up. MSF aid group said the amount of aid Israel has started to allow into Gaza is not nearly enough and is "a smokescreen to pretend the siege is over." Its emergency coordinator in Gaza said the “Israeli authorities' decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving."
The State of Qatar has been playing a leading diplomatic and humanitarian role on the issue. It has worked, since day one, to find a solution to protect civilians through humanitarian aid, release all hostages and detainees, and to end this war.
Qatar’s efforts, made alongside Egypt and the US, have already delivered periods of ceasefire, release of hundreds of hostages and detainees, and delivery of aid. A permanent solution, however, has been elusive. Nevertheless, Qatar continues its intense diplomatic efforts on the issue, based on its principled stance that peaceful negotiations are the best solutions to conflict and Palestinian people have their inalienable right to live in peace in their own independent state. Speaking at the Qatar Economic Forum this week, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani stressed that despite attempts to sabotage its efforts and the blackmail attempts, Qatar will continue efforts to achieve stability and peace in Gaza.
As there have been some serious remarks and steps announced by the European nations against Israel’s conduct in Gaza, it is important for the global community to pressure the Netanyahu government into allowing the humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and for both sides to agree to an end to this war.
