DaysofPal- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening as Israel continues to block aid from entering the besieged enclave, the Government Media Office in Gaza has reported.
The ongoing closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing, now in its third consecutive day, is exacerbating food shortages, crippling medical services, and worsening already dire living conditions for millions of Palestinians.
Israel blocked the entry of aid shipments to Gaza on Sunday, hours after the first phase of its ceasefire deal with the Palestinian group Hamas expired, raising fears of hunger and more hardships during the holy month of Ramadan that began over the weekend.
Several Arab nations and rights organizations have condemned Israel’s decision to halt aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and international law by using starvation as a weapon.
According to Gaza’s government media office, the prolonged blockade is intensifying the famine crisis due to the scarcity of supplies and lack of alternatives. The restriction on essential goods and aid has left the population struggling to survive, with food insecurity reaching catastrophic levels.
Officials have condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war, calling it a grave violation of international humanitarian law.
The blockade has also prevented the entry of life-saving medicines and medical supplies, placing thousands of wounded and sick individuals at risk of death. Hospitals across Gaza are struggling to function as fuel shortages force medical facilities to shut down, depriving patients of urgent care.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, “people’s lives are on a knife edge once again” if they are unable to obtain aid.
The Norwegian Refugee Council’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, Angelita Caredda, stated that blocking aid to Gaza would push its civilian population “beyond collapse.”
“The Government of Israel must immediately reverse this decision. International actors must do everything in their power to ensure access to Gaza resumes, so that aid reaches those in need without any further delay or disruption,” Caredda said in a statement.
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, has also added his voice to the growing calls for Israel to resume aid to Gaza, stating that halting humanitarian assistance endangers the lives of already exhausted civilians.
“Humanitarian aid must continue to flow at a scale similar to what we’ve seen over the past six weeks when the ceasefire began,” Lazzarini said in a post on X.
“Aid and these basic services are non-negotiable. They must never be used as weapons of war.”
Humanitarian organizations and rights groups have called for an immediate reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing to allow the entry of food, medical aid, and fuel.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=61078
