The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unparalleled levels as Israel's 100-day siege of northern Gaza has resulted in catastrophic conditions for the region's inhabitants. At least 5,000 Palestinians have been killed during this period, while the overall death toll in the ongoing conflict has soared to over 46,500. Israeli ground operations have focused heavily on the northern third of the territory, with the stated aim of preventing Hamas from regrouping. However, the cost has been dire for the residents, who are enduring unimaginable hardships.
The siege has taken a severe toll on media personnel, with at least 217 journalists and media workers losing their lives between October 7, 2023, and December 25, 2024. The dangers faced by these individuals are underscored by Dr. Tanya Haj-Hassan's poignant observation:
"Wearing scrubs and white coats is like wearing a target on their backs," – Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan
The conflict has displaced approximately 1.9 million people, or about 90% of Gaza's population, forcing them into makeshift accommodations. With the destruction of more than 161,600 housing units and significant damage to an additional 194,000 structures, many find themselves without adequate shelter. The cold winter weather exacerbates their suffering, as evidenced by the tragic deaths of eight newborns from hypothermia within a span of three weeks.
Food scarcity and inflation compound the crisis. The price of a 25kg sack of flour has skyrocketed from $10 (£8) to $140, leaving nearly all of Gaza's 2.1 million residents struggling to secure basic necessities. The blockade on humanitarian aid has only worsened the situation. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich defended these actions, stating:
"Blocking humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza was 'justified and moral' even if it caused 2 million civilians to die of hunger." – Bezalel Smotrich
This stance has drawn international condemnation as conditions deteriorate further. Shaina Low, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s communications adviser in Palestine, described the situation in northern Gaza as:
"Simply unimaginable", with acute shortages of food and water." – Shaina Low
The health sector in Gaza is also on the brink of collapse. Only 16 out of 36 hospitals remain partly operational, according to the World Health Organization. Injuries sustained by over 105,000 civilians have left more than 25% facing life-altering consequences, straining the already overburdened healthcare facilities.
Efforts by the United Nations and its partners to deliver humanitarian aid continue amid these challenges. In 2024 alone, they planned 5,321 aid deliveries across Gaza. Yet, skepticism remains among the local population about the effectiveness of these efforts. As Mazen Hammad succinctly put it:
"When we see it on the ground, then we believe that there is a truce." – Mazen Hammad
Meanwhile, reports from Israeli and Western intelligence services suggest that at least a third of the remaining 95 Israeli captives in Gaza have perished amid the hostilities. The human cost on both sides continues to escalate with no clear resolution in sight.
In northern Gaza, scenes of devastation are common as families grapple with the dual threats of violence and deprivation. Nusseibeh, a resident enduring this harsh reality, articulated their plight:
"We are suffering a lot: bombing, death and destruction in one hand and on the other hand, hunger and cold," – Nusseibeh
Her despair echoes through her words as she reflects on her sister's fate:
"I say that my sister is lucky: death is much better than living such a life. We are so tired and exhausted; we just want to stop this war which has taken everything precious from us … The children are dying, not because of the bombing, but because of starvation and cold. All we want is to stop the war." – Nusseibeh