The ongoing conflict in Gaza has reached a critical point as humanitarian organizations warn of an impending catastrophe if Israel proceeds with its planned military offensive in Gaza City. With Gaza’s lack of mobility and freedoms, its residents are cornered and can’t leave or avoid the increased violence. Access to essential services including healthcare, nutritious food and safe drinking water is plummeting. This deteriorating security climate is profoundly adding to the challenges faced by an already besieged civilian populace.
As conflict continues to amplify, Gaza health ministry defies efforts to silence it. It has deeply criticized the Israeli army’s insistence on forcing civilians out of northern communities before launching the operations. This abrupt dismissal further illustrates the desperation and determination of our healthcare workers still fighting to survive under dangerous conditions. Yet the Israeli government has done little to raise humanitarian aid. As a consequence, there are continued and compounding urgent needs for the population in Gaza.
“The intensification of hostilities in Gaza means more killing, more displacement, more destruction, and more panic,” stated Christian Cardon from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With the security situation moving away from humanitarians by the hour, their ability to move and deliver aid dwindles by the minute.
Daily media reports indicate rampant displacement, with Palestinians fleeing from north to south. This movement comes on the heels of Israeli warnings of imminent military assault in Gaza City. This growing movement symbolizes the increasing terror that civilians are facing after Israel has recently ratified plans for an annexation of the territory. Only days ago, Israeli military forces shelled areas of Gaza City overnight, deepening fears over the safety of students and residents.
IDF aircraft fired 3 missiles at Deir al-Balah. They purposefully targeted an area in the middle of an area near a busy civilian-filled street. The consequences for non-combatants raise the specter of civilian deaths and broader humanitarian consequences of military action.
The families of Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza recently warned that civilians would be harmed by any military operation. They have publicly urged the Israeli government to accept a ceasefire deal. For their part, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have publicly indicated a willingness to receive a ceasefire. This deal would effect the release of half of the remaining hostages and be a significant step in saving hundreds of additional lives.
As the New York Times reported, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized plans for the occupation of Gaza City. Further, he has ordered his officials to immediately begin negotiations for the return of hostages. He stated emphatically, “There was never a question that we’re not going to leave Hamas there.” This new statement makes clear Israel’s position that they have a right to wipe out militancy threats, even if it leads to eventual cataclysmic civilian loss.
The families of Israeli hostages are raising alarm about their loved ones languishing in Hamas captivity. Their loved ones would see a full takeover of Gaza City as a “death sentence.” The clashing goals of negotiating hostage security versus military goals further exacerbates an already fraught situation.
International leaders are raising the alarm about an impending Gaza humanitarian disaster. That’s precisely what French President Emmanuel Macron was warning against when he spoke of an existential threat. He warned that further military operations might have permanent effects for people still stuck inside the enclave.
António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General, voiced concerns about the “massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza would inevitably cause.” Multiple humanitarian entities have cried foul over such acts. They focus on targeting enforcement on the most dangerous roadways and calling for urgent action to prevent any more lives from being lost.
The overall picture continues to shift as new developments are happening at a blistering pace. Severe peak of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point. The human cost has led organizations to urgently demand both immediate ceasefire negotiations and increased humanitarian corridors to alleviate the suffering.