Over 60,000 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Conflict, Aid Access Severely Restricted
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 60,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza. In the last 24 hours alone, 119 Palestinians have died, with 65 of these victims killed while seeking humanitarian aid. Amidst these escalating death tolls, Israel has been accused of a deliberate
attack on the Palestine Red Crescent's Gaza HQ, which resulted in the death of an aid worker, while Israel maintains it has no information
about such an incident.
Worsening Humanitarian Crisis
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has grown progressively worse, with 28% of hospitals destroyed, hundreds of doctors killed, and a third of buildings completely destroyed. A food crisis is also worsening, affecting 93% of the population, and leading to a rising number of deaths due to malnutrition. A report from Al-Quds News states that 181 people, including 94 children and infants, have died from starvation and malnutrition. A young man from Rafah was recently reported to have died from starvation, marking another grim milestone in the crisis.
Aid Access Blocked
The delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza is being severely hampered, with the Government Media Office in Gaza reporting that more than 22,000 aid trucks are currently parked at the Gaza Strip crossing gates, blocked by Israel. The office referred to this action as a full-fledged war crime
, accusing Israel of deliberately preventing the entry of the trucks as part of a systematic policy of engineering starvation, siege, and chaos.
International Reactions and Allegations of War Crimes
The situation in Gaza has sparked international outcry, with Human Rights Watch accusing Israeli forces of committing war crimes by killing Palestinian aid seekers at the distribution sites of the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Medical sources in Gaza have reported that Israeli forces have killed over 1,239 Palestinian aid seekers at these distribution sites since May.
These allegations have led to a shift in tone from U.S. and Israeli officials, with indications that an 'all or nothing' deal for Gaza may be on the table. However, the terms of this deal remain unclear, and cease-fire negotiations appear to have hit a wall.
Current Status
The current situation in Gaza remains dire, with the food and humanitarian crisis worsening by the day. The death toll continues to rise as access to aid is severely restricted. Amidst this, Israeli forces continue their attacks, with 81 Palestinians reported killed since dawn on Tuesday, over half of whom were seeking aid. The international community continues to watch closely as the crisis unfolds, with the mounting death toll and allegations of war crimes adding a sense of urgency to the ongoing cease-fire negotiations.