Palestinians in northern Gaza are facing significant challenges in their efforts to survive amid the ongoing siege and bombing campaign by Israel, which has now entered its 23rd day. An Oxfam official has asserted that Israel is employing starvation as a tactic in its actions against the Palestinians, with numerous individuals reportedly “starving to death” due to hunger.
Mahmoud Alsaqqa, Oxfam’s food security and livelihood lead in Gaza, expressed grave concerns that some Palestinians are “starving to death” from hunger in northern Gaza, indicating that the situation may worsen in the coming days with more fatalities expected. There is nothing available. “You are referring to a situation where they have not received any supplies for several days,” he stated.
Aid agencies report that approximately 96 percent of Gaza’s population is experiencing significant food shortages. UNICEF reports that nine out of ten children do not receive the necessary nutrition for their growth and development. Over the course of a year of conflict, a minimum of 37 children have succumbed to malnutrition or dehydration.
The United Nations reports that Israel has obstructed the entry of 83 percent of food aid into the Strip since the onset of the conflict. Approximately 50,000 children under the age of five require immediate intervention for malnutrition by the year’s end.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for an immediate ceasefire, the release of captives, and accountability for violations of international law. “The military operations conducted by Israel in North Gaza have led to significant devastation and deprivation, rendering the living conditions for the Palestinian population increasingly untenable,” he stated.
The warning from Oxfam was issued as Israeli forces conducted bombings in additional neighborhoods in northern Gaza, while humanitarian officials raised concerns regarding the continuing ground assault. At least 35 individuals lost their lives in Beit Lahiya following the Israeli army’s targeting of five structures.
Israel’s military actions in Jabalia, Beit Hanoon, and Beit Lahiya have resulted in the deaths of approximately 800 Palestinians. According to Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, a minimum of 35 individuals are currently unaccounted for, with concerns that they may be trapped beneath debris or have been obliterated by Israeli airstrikes.
Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on occupied Palestinian territories, remarked that “the entire population of Gaza is at risk of dying in a genocide that has been announced and executed under our watch.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that the current Israeli evacuation orders and restrictions have resulted in civilians facing “horrific circumstances.” Health officials in Palestine reported that the siege has severely impacted healthcare in northern Gaza, preventing medical teams from accessing bombed locations.
Israel asserts that its forces have re-entered northern Gaza to eliminate Hamas fighters. Nonetheless, Mansour Shouman, a Palestinian journalist, stated that Israel seeks to displace Palestinians in order to establish settlements. “The region has experienced three weeks of significant land invasion efforts aimed at eliminating the presence of Palestinians.”
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