Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Intensifies amid Israeli Airstrikes

Israeli airstrikes have left millions of people in Gaza facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

UNICEF reported that, through the Rafah crossing, they were able to deliver only 44,000 bottles of drinking water to Gaza. While this may seem like a substantial figure, it would suffice for just one day for approximately 22,000 people. The daunting fact remains that Gaza's population stands at approximately 2.3 million.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF Executive Director, issued a stark warning, stating, "With one million children in Gaza now facing a critical protection and humanitarian crisis, the delivery of water is a matter of life or death. Every minute counts." Russell added, "This first, limited water will save lives, but the needs are immediate and immense – not just for water, but for food, fuel, medicine, and essential goods and services."

Amidst these critical circumstances, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has dispatched volunteers to facilitate the delivery of aid. Their first convoy is destined for a UNRWA storage facility in Deir el-Balah, with coordinates provided to the Israeli army.

However, PRCS director Marwan Jilani emphasized the challenges that lie ahead, particularly in delivering aid to the central and northern parts of the Strip, which have suffered the most from the ongoing Israeli bombardment.

Despite the humanitarian crisis, Israel has not agreed to a ceasefire, and only 20 trucks have been allowed to cross from the Rafah border in Egypt. Jilani insisted that Israel, as an occupying power, has a responsibility to ensure the safety of civilians and should permit aid to be delivered through other crossing points within its territory.

The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has also sounded the alarm about the exclusion of fuel from humanitarian aid reaching the enclave, emphasizing the potential danger to the lives of the sick and wounded. They issued a statement, urging the international community and Egypt to take immediate action to deliver fuel and essential health supplies to prevent further casualties in hospitals.

In a desperate plea, doctors in Gaza have called upon the international community to intervene and put an end to the ongoing conflict. A doctor at the Indonesian Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip revealed the grim reality, stating that the wounded brought to the facility face numerous complications, and the death rate has reached 100 percent. The doctor also described the use of "unusual" weapons, resulting in fourth-degree burns throughout the bodies of victims.

As world leaders convened in neighboring Egypt to discuss ways to de-escalate the conflict, Hamas issued a new statement addressing the Israeli aerial attacks. The statement condemned Israel's actions, stating that the "occupation's continued bombing of the Gaza Strip in conjunction with the Cairo summit is a message that Israel disregards all international values and conventions, and this requires a decisive international stance."

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the urgent need for humanitarian aid growing each day as Israeli airstrikes persist, endangering the lives of millions of innocent civilians.