Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Aid Faces Challenges in Gaza
Written by Sanjay Kumar
- Exhausted residents seek respite from ongoing Israeli strikes, with over 85% displaced.
- Dire shortages persist as aid convoys face challenges amid the Israeli siege.
- South Africa files ICC case, accusing Israel of “genocidal acts” in Gaza, straining diplomatic ties.
After enduring nearly three months of relentless Israeli airstrikes and facing dire shortages of essential resources, Gazans are expressing desperation for an end to the conflict. Despite mounting international pressure, including a call from UN Chief Antonio Guterres for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and South Africa initiating legal action against Israel, the offensive shows no signs of abating.
The World Health Organization has issued a warning about the escalating threat of infectious diseases as continuous fighting forces more Gazans to move southward, exacerbating the overcrowded conditions in the city of Rafah.
Residents like Um Louay Abu Khater, 49, in a southern border camp, voice their exhaustion and plea for peace amid the constant threat of bombings. Over 85 percent of Gaza’s 2.4 million population have fled their homes, enduring hunger and winter conditions in makeshift tents.
A blockade imposed by Israel on October 7 has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, causing severe shortages of food, safe water, fuel, and medicine. Aid convoys, offering sporadic relief, are struggling to reach those in need. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported an incident where an aid convoy was fired upon by Israeli forces, though no casualties were reported.
Ahmed al-Baz, 33, describes the past year as the worst of his life, marked by destruction and devastation. As negotiations continue, a Hamas delegation is in Cairo discussing an Egyptian proposal for ceasefires, the release of hostages, and an ultimate end to the war.
Israel’s military campaign, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 attacks, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides. The ongoing conflict has claimed at least 21,507 lives, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The situation is dire, with Gazans hoping for a ceasefire to welcome the new year at home.
In response to South Africa’s application at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of “genocidal acts” against Palestinians in Gaza, Israel vehemently rejects the claim. Tensions between the two nations escalate, with diplomatic relations strained, reflecting broader international divisions on the issue.
