Israel’s continued bombing and blockade of all aid has led to conditions in the war-battered Gaza Strip deteriorate further. It’s now been more than 50 days since Israel blocked entry of all aid into the besieged territory, deepening hunger and fears of famine.
The deadly strikes, which Israel resumed on March 18 following a fragile ceasefire, have killed at least 1,928 people in the strip, bringing the total death toll since the Israeli aggression began on October 7, 2023, to at least 51,305, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
These are indeed troubling figures. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, said this week that Gaza has become a land of desperation where “hunger is spreading and deepening, deliberate and manmade.” After 18 months of devastating war and an Israeli blockade on aid since March 2, the UN has warned of a dire humanitarian situation for the 2.4 million inhabitants of Gaza.
As heads of 12 major aid organisations warned, “famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts” of the strip. The current situation has also been described by a UN official as “probably the worst humanitarian situation we have seen throughout the war in Gaza.”
There is no doubt that Gaza’s population of over two million, most of them women and children, are undergoing collective punishment.
In its campaign, Israel has not spared the shelters for the displaced population and even the healthcare and emergency workers. It hit another school building sheltering the displaced people yesterday, killing at least 11 people in that particular strike.
A weeks-long ceasefire earlier this year saw release of dozens of hostages from Gaza and hundreds of Palestinians from Israeli prisons, as well as entry of vital humanitarian aid. But since the blockade on entry of aid, the wounded and the sick in Gaza have been deprived of medical care, while trucks with essential medical supplies have been waiting for Israeli permission to enter. The supplies might expire before they reach those most in need.
The State of Qatar has played a key role in helping achieve the previous ceasefire and continues to work towards that end. Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani discussed the joint mediation efforts with Secretary of State of the United States of America H E Marco Rubio this week.
Given the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, it is extremely crucial for both sides to return to the negotiating table and reach a ceasefire deal which leads to release of all hostages and detainees, and entry of humanitarian aid at scale.
