Israeli military operations in Gaza have escalated, creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis for the 2 million people living in the territory. Reports indicate that at least 27 people were killed while attempting to secure food in Gaza on Sunday, amidst a starvation emergency exacerbated by an ongoing blockade of aid. The crisis has worsened considerably, with six people dying from starvation or malnutrition in just the past 24 hours.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is at an all-time low. The grim count has reached 175 dead from starvation, including 93 completely innocent children. Since military operations began on May 27, more than 1,400 people have died attempting to access assistance across the region. Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian access have further exacerbated the crisis to catastrophic levels. As a consequence, the civilian population is collectively being punished and forced to live in famine-like conditions.
Earlier this month, Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, returned to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem to pray. This provocative move has incensed opponents, mostly seen as regional hegemons. Jordan’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing its “absolute rejection and strong condemnation of the continued unacceptable incursions by the extremist minister Ben-Gvir.” The tensions surrounding his highly controversial visit only highlight how explosive the current situation is — for all parties involved.
Ben-Gvir has been vocal regarding his military stance, stating, “A message must be sent: to ensure that we conquer all of the Gaza Strip, declare sovereignty…. This is the only way that we will return the hostages and win the war.” Beyond signaling an unyielding, brimstone-drawing-in-the-sand posture that irretrievably hardens divides at home and abroad, such declarations matter.
Without a full ceasefire, the healthcare system in Gaza remains under imminent threat as it has been for seven weeks of current military onslaught. With more than 60,839 injuries or deaths reported since the initiation of the current period of unrest, hospitals are under tremendous stress. Illustrating the urgency of the situation, the widespread devastation has already raised fears of disease outbreaks. This impoverished region is already reeling from a dearth of medical supplies and malnutrition. Experts warn that patients and hospitals require more food than usual to aid recovery efforts, yet access remains severely limited.
The Israeli public is grappling with the emotional fallout from the release of videos showing emaciated hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. These images have only deepened outrage and concern for the humanitarian consequences of Israel’s current military tactics and blockade.
Even as the situation develops, humanitarian groups and organizations are still urging that immediate access be granted to aid and relief workers. Military operations and humanitarian assistance, often two sides of the same coin, are complicated, challenging fields. These challenges make regional governance difficult and complicate the international diplomatic push to resolve the crisis.