DaysofPal- Today marks the ninth day in a row that Israel has blocked access to Gaza, closing all crossings and preventing the entry of humanitarian aid. On Sunday, Israel escalated the crisis further by cutting off electricity to Gaza, deepening the already dire humanitarian situation.
The head of the Bakery Owners Association in Gaza confirmed on Sunday that all bakeries in Khan Younis, a city in southern Gaza, that rely on cooking gas have ceased operations. As a result, five bakeries in southern Gaza have stopped production, and the rest of the bakeries across the strip are expected to follow suit within the next two weeks if the blockade continues.
For over 15 months, Gaza residents have been enduring severe hardship due to Israel’s ongoing assault, with many losing their homes and becoming homeless. The population is now increasingly dependent on food distribution points to survive.
Adding to the already dire conditions, Israel’s decision to cut off electricity has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s only desalination plant in the central region. This plant, which served the Deir al-Balah area, was providing approximately 18,000 cubic meters of water daily. As a result of the power cutoff, the desalination plant is now relying on generators, which are expensive and insufficient, producing just 2,500 cubic meters of water per day, roughly the amount found in an Olympic swimming pool.
According to Gisha, an Israeli organization that works to protect Palestinians’ rights, the restrictions on fuel entering Gaza have compounded the crisis, as fuel is necessary for both water distribution trucks and the operation of generators. With fuel in short supply, residents have turned to burning wood for cooking and heat.
The ongoing blockade has caused a sharp rise in prices and severely disrupted Gaza’s economy, with many businesses forced to shut down due to shortages of essential goods. The destruction of agricultural lands and food storage facilities has further intensified the already grave food security issues.
Human rights organizations have strongly condemned Israel’s actions, labeling the blockade and suspension of aid as a “starvation policy” and accusing Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare.
Philippe Lazzarini, the commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), warned that the situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating. More than a week after Israel halted all supplies from entering the Gaza Strip, Lazzarini expressed grave concerns about the scale of the crisis. “Whatever the intent is, it’s clearly a weaponization of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” Lazzarini said, condemning the ongoing blockade as a deliberate and harmful tactic.
The worsening crisis in Gaza underscores the urgent need for international intervention to end the blockade, provide humanitarian aid, and address the growing human rights violations affecting the population.
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