Israeli Military Forces Result in Over 80 Deaths in Gaza, Starvation Intensifies
The Gaza Strip is currently grappling with a severe hunger crisis, with conditions reaching near-famine levels. According to Gaza health authorities, over 61,020 Palestinians, including 18,430 children, have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023.
The daily average of aid trucks now stands at 85, falling significantly short of the 600 trucks per day needed to meet minimum survival needs, as reported by UNRWA. This shortage has led to a sharp rise in starvation, particularly among children and the elderly.
Hospitals in Gaza have recorded eight more deaths from starvation and malnutrition in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 188, including 94 children. Palestinians are injured daily while waiting for food at distribution sites, with injuries including bullets in hard-to-treat areas like heads, necks, and chests.
The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have criticized the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) for failing to provide enough aid and for the dire security situation at its aid distribution sites. However, the GHF usually acts as a pooled fund to coordinate and finance urgent aid operations in Gaza, channeling resources to UN agencies and NGOs to address food insecurity and malnutrition.
The current extreme conditions depend critically on ceasefire agreements and safe humanitarian corridors for the effectiveness of aid distribution. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is leading the humanitarian response, including food distribution and nutrition treatment, but distribution is heavily impeded by security and access issues.
Israeli tanks pushed into central Gaza on Tuesday, but it is unclear if this was part of a larger ground offensive. At least 83 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip. The UN has expressed alarm at reports of a possible decision to expand Israel's military operations throughout the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly poised to announce plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip.
The attacks have occurred amid a deepening Israel-induced hunger crisis in Gaza. The situation remains a rapidly unfolding humanitarian disaster requiring urgent, unimpeded humanitarian access to prevent further loss of life. The UN Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca stated that international law is clear: Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state.
The conflict has displaced nearly all of Gaza's more than 2 million people, causing what a global hunger monitor last week called an unfolding famine. Palestinians living in areas not yet taken by military control via ground incursions or forced evacuations fear any new push would be catastrophic.
Salim Asfour, a 75-year-old Palestinian, has been living off nothing but bread and water for months and has dropped from 80kg to 40kg since the start of the war. The Government Media Office of Gaza has warned of an intensifying humanitarian catastrophe due to looting of limited aid and "security chaos being sowed by the Israeli occupation".
Minister of Defence Israel Katz and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer are expected to attend a meeting later this week to decide on a strategy to present to the cabinet. The meeting comes as the Israeli cabinet is to convene on Thursday. Forty-nine captives, including 27 who are believed to be dead, are still being held by Hamas, according to Israeli authorities.
[1] UNRWA [2] WFP [3] The New York Times [4] Al Jazeera
- The Gaza Strip's hunger crisis, reaching near-famine levels, has resulted in the deaths of over 18,430 children, according to Gaza health authorities, with the number increaseing daily due to starvation and malnutrition.
- The shortage of aid trucks has led to a sharp rise in starvation, particularly among children and the elderly, with hospitals recording eight more deaths in the last 24 hours.
- In hard-to-treat areas like heads, necks, and chests, Palestinians are injured daily while waiting for food at distribution sites.
- The United Nations and other humanitarian organizations have criticized the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) for failing to provide enough aid and for the security situation at its aid distribution sites.
- The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is leading the humanitarian response, including food distribution and nutrition treatment, but distribution is heavily impeded by security and access issues.
- Breaking news reports suggest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may announce plans to fully occupy the Gaza Strip, potentially causing further displacement and exacerbating the ongoing conflict and health-and-wellness crisis, particularly related to nutrition and war-and-conflicts. The situation has led general-news outlets such as The New York Times and Al Jazeera to express concern.
