DaysofPal- The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is worsening, with hundreds of Palestinian families forced to live inside severely damaged homes that could collapse at any moment. This situation has been driven by extensive destruction linked to the ongoing Israeli offensive, combined with a severe shortage of tents and alternative shelters that could protect residents from winter conditions or sudden structural failures.
Field sources in western Gaza City reported that a range of military assets, including naval vessels and heavy artillery, have been used to destroy residential blocks. This sustained bombardment has turned entire neighborhoods into rubble, leaving remaining families to survive inside exposed concrete structures that lack even the most basic safety standards.
Struggle for Basic Survival
Residents in these areas report a complete absence of essential services. At dawn, injured individuals and displaced families must trek long distances to obtain the necessary drinking water and firewood for heating and cooking. Their hardship is deepened by the lack of medicines and essential medical supplies, particularly affecting children and women, who are among the most vulnerable in these conditions.
In distressing testimonies from within the ruins, a Palestinian woman said her family is living among insects and rodents that share their limited food supplies. She added that dust and debris constantly fall on them while they sleep, with no ability to repair their home or move to safer shelter due to the high cost of living and lack of alternatives.
Policy of Deliberate Ruination
On the political and military level, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that around 2,500 residential buildings have been destroyed since the ceasefire agreement came into effect on 10 October last year. His remarks reflect a deliberate Israeli policy of destruction aimed at rendering the Gaza Strip uninhabitable, even during periods of relative calm.
The scope of the human cost is demonstrated by data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which shows that over 72,000 people have been killed and over 172,000 have been injured. Widespread destruction has affected around 90% of civilian infrastructure, placing the international community before an unprecedented humanitarian and moral challenge to assist those affected.
Palestinian families are calling on Arab states and international organizations to urgently deliver humanitarian aid and begin reconstruction efforts. The United Nations estimates that rebuilding what has been destroyed will cost around 70 billion dollars, highlighting the gap between urgent needs and the limited assistance reaching the territory.
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