Gaza is descending into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. According to UN agencies, the region is quickly exhausting supplies of the specialized nutritious foods essential to saving the lives of severely malnourished children. The Palestinian Health Ministry has communicated an overwhelming 89 dead in just the past 24 hours. When one out of three Gazans goes a day without food, things are at a new low. According to the World Food Programme, nearly 90,000 women and children need immediate treatment for malnutrition. Projections show that between the months of May and September, 470,000 people in Gaza will face “catastrophic hunger.”
For these reasons, Israel is understandably moving to act in response. Beginning this Friday, they will allow foreign nations to helicopter humanitarian assistance into Gaza. International pressure is growing. As of this writing, the UK, France, and Germany are demanding an immediate cessation to what they describe as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer made clear the importance of recognizing Palestinian statehood as an important part of working toward a lasting peace.
Germany has left little doubt that it will never support recognition of a Palestinian state. This position stands in stark contrast to many other European nations and how they are treating this crisis. Meanwhile, Italy’s foreign minister said he was alarmed “in-depth”, saying that Italy can “no longer accept carnage and famine” in Gaza.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has decried the international community’s indifference towards the suffering of Palestinians, characterizing the situation in Gaza as a “moral crisis that challenges the global conscience.” He emphatically condemned those countries for their callousness. He appealed to them to act to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of civilians in the area.
“I cannot explain the level of indifference and inaction we see by too many in the international community – the lack of compassion, the lack of truth, the lack of humanity.” – António Guterres
With ceasefire talks due to reconvene next week, the situation around the negotiating table is still controversial. Hamas has vehemently denied US claims that talks have gone awry. These statements, they claim, mischaracterize the context of recent negotiations.
According to the World Food Programme, almost every third person in Gaza does not know where their next meal is coming from. This crisis continues to be compounded by skyrocketing food prices. Food aid has now become the only way people get any food at all, the organization emphasized.
“Nearly one person in three is not eating for days. Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment.” – World Food Programme
In fact, the situation is only getting worse. Civilian casualties from a lack of humanitarian support are already being reported. The unprecedented need for assistance has motivated 28 countries to step up. For example, they released a statement recently condemning the Israeli government’s new model of aid delivery, dangerous, destabilizing, and designed to further strip Gazans of their human dignity.
“The humanitarian catastrophe that we are witnessing in Gaza must end now.” – UK, France, and Germany
“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.” – UK, France, and Germany
Prime Minister Starmer reiterated that recognizing Palestinian statehood must be part of a broader strategy leading to a two-state solution that ensures lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis.
“Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis.” – Keir Starmer
As Gaza prepares for even darker days, action never has been more urgent. Humanitarian needs have already reached record levels. Global leaders are under unprecedented pressure to act now, urgently and compassionately, by moving to alleviate the suffering of millions of innocent civilians in Gaza.