The humanitarian crisis worsens at Gaza City as Israel resumes its pauses on aid deliveries. Israel has made minor concessions in easing its blockade on shipments. Rather than reverse the march toward famine, all this measure has done is slow it down. The ongoing conflict has led to catastrophic conditions, prompting urgent calls for humanitarian assistance amid the escalating violence.
In recent days, Israeli tanks moved into the outskirts of Gaza City, stepping up military operations there and sealing off several neighborhoods. The Zeitoun neighborhood, which housed nearly 500 families at the time of acquisition, has been rapidly cleared in recent weeks. Israel has made no secret of their desire to reoccupy all of Gaza City with troops. The Prime Minister is keen to label these actions as necessary and justified to defeating Hamas.
Even with these dire conditions, Israeli leaders have so far failed to respond to Hamas’ latest proposal for a long-term ceasefire. That lack of conversation puts millions of civilians at risk for even more violence and suffering. Today, families in Gaza City are living on the brink of starvation. Religious leaders have cautioned that trying to escape on foot would be a “death sentence” for people who are frail and suffering from starvation.
Even humanitarian zones—established as places of refuge and humanitarian assistance—which sought protection from violence as civilian safe zones, have shown to be unsafe. On the ground, witnesses report Israeli attacks hitting so-called “humanitarian zones,” putting already vulnerable populations at further risk. Compounding the chaos, cramped conditions for those escaping Gaza City have made even the simplest logistics difficult. This challenge is particularly acute in the limited patches of southern Gaza where evacuation orders have not been issued.
The United Nations estimates about 23,000 Palestinians have fled Gaza City in the last week. The Gaza Health Ministry is alarmed over its capacity to treat the entire population. They are concerned that a mass exodus may exhaust their resources. According to the ministry, at least five people have died from malnutrition in Gaza City thus far. As of today, in only 24 hours, Israeli strikes have killed 59 people, mostly civilians.
As Israel resumes military operations without pausing for aid deliveries, humanitarian organizations warn that the conditions in Gaza are reaching a breaking point. The health ministry’s failure to deliver adequate supplies is leaving innocent civilians trapped on the frontline to suffer even further.