Humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies amid blockade

Israel closed Gaza’s border crossings on March 2, halting all humanitarian aid, including water, food, and medical supplies, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in the region. Gaza's Government Media Office accused Israel of worsening the suffering of Palestinian children through its ongoing blockade and war, using hunger as a "systematic" weapon of war. The office stated that Israel was violating international humanitarian law by employing starvation and thirst as weapons against civilians.

The continuous border closure has led to a severe deterioration in health conditions, particularly among children and infants. Over 1.1 million people in Gaza face daily hunger, with more than 65,000 children in hospitals suffering from acute malnutrition.

The Gaza Government has held Israel fully responsible for the growing crisis, which endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, due to shortages of food, medicine, and clean water. The statement called for the immediate reopening of border crossings to allow essential humanitarian aid, nutritional supplements, and medical supplies to reach Gaza, especially for children and critically ill patients.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has reported that Gaza is enduring an extended siege, now almost two months long, far longer than the initial blockade at the start of the war. UNRWA's spokeswoman, Juliette Touma, highlighted the extreme deprivation, saying that children in Gaza are going to bed hungry and families are struggling to find food. Medical care is also unavailable due to shortages in hospitals.

The situation has grown increasingly desperate, with hunger and lack of resources spreading rapidly. The UN agency recently distributed its last food parcels and is now out of essential supplies like flour.

Since March 18, when Israel broke a ceasefire agreement, airstrikes have killed and wounded thousands of Palestinians across Gaza. The ongoing violence follows Israel’s genocidal campaign that began on October 7, 2023, in retaliation for a Palestinian resistance operation in southern Israel. This war has resulted in over 51,000 deaths, more than 116,000 injuries, and tens of thousands of missing persons.

Despite global condemnation of the Israeli actions, little has been done to hold the country accountable. Israel is under investigation by the International Court of Justice for genocide, and war crimes charges have been filed against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Washington and a few other Western nations continue to defend and support Israel's actions.