DaysofPal- The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening under continued restrictions on the entry of aid, increasing the risk of famine and accelerating the collapse of the healthcare system, according to an editorial published by Haaretz. Hundreds of thousands of people are living in torn tents or damaged buildings without electricity, running water, or proper sanitation.
Citing data from the military’s civil coordination center, the newspaper reported that aid shipments entering Gaza have dropped by about 80 percent since the start of the war with Iran. Only 590 trucks entered the territory over the first week, compared to a weekly average of around 4,200 trucks before the war.
The report noted that this sharp decline is already reflected on the ground through rising food prices and growing shortages of medicine and medical supplies in hospitals.
Thousands of patients, both adults and children, need immediate medical evacuation, the newspaper reports. Israel has blocked their transfer to hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank since February 28, despite the ability of those facilities to save many lives following the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system.
The editorial also stated that Israeli occupation forces continue to carry out near-daily strikes inside Gaza, saying they target armed individuals or suspects but cause significant civilian casualties. Since a ceasefire took effect on October 11, 667 people have been killed and 1,814 injured by Israeli fire in the territory.
The newspaper argued that Israel gains nothing from the continuation of this crisis, neither morally nor politically. It noted that the country’s name has become increasingly associated with terms such as “genocide” and “crimes against humanity,” alongside the issuance of an arrest warrant against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the expansion of boycotts affecting academic and economic sectors.
The editorial concluded by calling for the lifting of restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, an end to obstacles facing international organizations, and urgent action to rebuild infrastructure. It also urged the start of a political process involving the Palestinian Authority and Arab states to achieve long-term reconstruction.
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