Humanitarian and food security experts are raising the alarm about imminent famine conditions in Gaza. Today, the region is facing an urgent humanitarian catastrophe that continues to grow under relentless military bombardments. The plight becomes compounded, as Israel has placed the area under a blockade for almost three months. Unfortunately, this blockade has severely restricted access to food, medicine, and other essential supplies. As aid finally starts to flow into the beleaguered territory, the need is overwhelming and immediate and cries for help intensify.
In fact, on Monday, five trucks of baby food and other desperately needed supplies were allowed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. This was a big deal. To avert a humanitarian disaster that Netanyahu warned would lead to a “starvation crisis” in Gaza, the Israeli government recently announced steps to loosen the blockade. Yet, in light of recent events within the backdrop of the humanitarian implications caused by such blockade, the blockade’s effects persist strongly on the population.
Even as these gestures of relief are announced, the violence goes on without letup. Israeli airstrikes in the last few days have killed at least 44 Palestinians. This figure is provided by Gaza’s civil defense agency. World leaders, including the UK, France and Canada, have denounced the military offensive. They’ve made clear their opposition to Israel’s escalation of their operations in Gaza.
“We will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions,” – Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney
The Israeli blockade has killed around 80 percent of Gaza’s population since its enforcement in mid-June 2007. Food security experts have been sounding alarms for months that if something doesn’t happen right away, 14,000 babies will die within the next 48 hours. Tom Fletcher, the U.K. envoy working on the ground in Gaza, captured the crisis with a sense of urgency in his comments.
“I want to save as many of these 14,000 babies as we can in the next 48 hours,” – Tom Fletcher
Fletcher underscored the persistence of teams who have continued to operate amid that conflict. They can still bring critical support to local health facilities and educational institutions. He continued, let’s not forget that thousands of workers have died in the pandemic.
During the most important ceasefire period so far, when up to 600 trucks were allowed daily into Gaza, the blockade limited relief. This new episode of violence has exposed how thin the line is between any military intervention and the humanitarian response. After weeks of pressure, last Sunday Netanyahu agreed to allow more aid into Gaza. He made this move in the face of growing international pressure and disturbing images of extreme hunger emerging from the area.
“By asking Israel to end a defensive war for our survival before Hamas terrorists on our border are destroyed… the leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7,” – Benjamin Netanyahu
Netanyahu’s careful byplay here is an effort to present a hard line against international criticism while trying to appease global attention on humanitarian concerns. He argues that it is unrealistic to expect Israel to negotiate away its own security interests when it’s under attack from Hamas. His government’s rhetoric, which casts the bombings as a means of national survival, presents the military actions in this light.
And the geopolitical landscape around this war is continuing to change. Last year, Canada ceased approval of permits for arms exports to Israel. This move quickly sends a strong message that the country has turned away from this type of diplomacy. The UK and France’s joint condemnation of Israel’s military actions suggests growing concern among Western allies regarding Israel’s approach to its military operations in Gaza.
As aid deliveries gradually become more available, international leaders’ demands for a stop to fighting are only growing. Fletcher’s group has made a promise to get their aid into the hands of those most desperately in need even when it’s dangerous to do so.
“But we’ll load those up with baby food and our people will run those risks,” – Tom Fletcher
Now is the time for global leaders to demand more than empty statements and calls for restraint. They require these actions if military operations persist and humanitarian access is still restricted.
“If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response,” – Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron, and Mark Carney
While the escalating conflict continues to pose significant hardships for those directly impacted. It further frustrates international efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance. As fighting continues and humanitarian needs deepen, tensions are rising. The international community is understandably focused on every development that has the power to worsen or improve this man-made crisis.