Gaza Crisis Deepens Amid Continued Israeli Attacks and Dire Humanitarian Conditions
Amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, casualties continue to rise due to persistent Israeli attacks, despite a ceasefire announced on October 10, 2023. Reports suggest that Israel has violated the ceasefire almost daily, with over 360 Palestinians killed to date. The situation is further complicated by the devastating conditions under which Palestinians are living, with many dwelling in tents due to the destruction of their homes.
Background of the Continuing Crisis
The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has continued unabated for years, with the most recent Israeli war launched in October 2023. Since the ceasefire on October 11, over 70,000 people have been killed and nearly 171,000 injured, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli forces continue military operations across Gaza, killing and injuring Palestinians on a near-daily basis.
Dire Humanitarian Conditions
Gaza's 2.4 million residents are living under siege-like conditions, with Israeli authorities keeping tight restrictions on the entry of food, medicine, and essential medical supplies. The United Nations has stated that more than 16,500 Palestinian patients still require life-saving treatment outside the Gaza Strip. Hospitals, already shattered by sustained Israeli attacks, are overwhelmed and unable to cope, as preventable deaths mount under these conditions.
The situation is so dire that some Palestinians, like Samar and Abdulrahman, are living in flooded tents, trying to survive and raise their newborn baby, as reported by Al Jazeera English. I used to dream of having a home, a job. Today, my dream is to find a tent to live in,
said Hikmat Lawwa, expressing the sentiment of many in Gaza.
International Response
The international response has been mixed. The UN General Assembly has adopted resolutions demanding that Israel end its occupation of both the Palestinian territories and the Golan Heights. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly stated that removing extremism from the people of Gaza
is the last option if Hamas is not dealt with.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has criticized Israel's conduct in the Gaza war as 'fundamentally wrong', stating that the war was waged with 'total neglect' with respect to civilian deaths and Gaza's destruction.
Efforts Towards Aid and Peace
Amid the crisis, Turkey is reportedly pushing to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that his country is trying to move aid despite Israel’s restrictions. Yet, the situation remains bleak, with Palestinians fearing the return of full-scale war.
As the crisis continues, the search for a lasting solution remains elusive. Despite the UN Security Council approving a peace plan conceived without the Palestinians, the implementation of such a plan seems uncertain. The humanitarian crisis deepens, and the call for aid and peace is getting louder, but the road to resolution appears fraught with challenges.