Gaza: Over two million Palestinians are enduring a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, exacerbated by the Israeli occupation's methodical starvation policy. Since a ceasefire agreement took effect almost a month ago, the situation has deteriorated, with the Israeli forces controlling the flow of life-saving aid through restrictive measures.
According to Qatar News Agency, UN reports and Palestinian sources characterize this policy as crisis management with no resolution. Israeli authorities continue to cite security concerns to restrict aid entry, allowing only minimal amounts to pass through, thereby keeping the humanitarian situation dire despite the ceasefire.
Reports from UN institutions and humanitarian agencies highlight that Israel has not met the minimum requirements of the humanitarian protocol linked to the ceasefire. The protocol is supposed to facilitate the entry of essential items like food, fuel, cooking gas, and medical supplies into Gaza, yet these remain scarce, crippling critical services like bakeries, hospitals, and utility stations.
Dr. Ismail Al Thawabta, Director of the Government Media Office in Gaza, told QNA that only 4,453 trucks of aid have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, out of the 15,600 expected by the last week. The daily average of 171 trucks falls significantly short of the 600 trucks needed, with officials accusing Israel of humanitarian and political manipulation.
Al Thawabta further asserted that not only is the quantity of aid limited, but Israel also dictates its quality, blocking over 350 essential food items while allowing non-essential goods at inflated prices. This strategy, he said, is intended to maintain control over Gaza's food security.
He also noted that the shortage of essentials has led to a critical situation in the number of operational bakeries and hospitals, with the enclave receiving only 31 trucks of cooking gas and 84 trucks of diesel, far below the daily requirement.
Amjad Shawa, Director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, expressed concern to QNA over the worsening living conditions. He highlighted the ongoing water crisis, exacerbated by Israel's refusal to permit the entry of equipment to repair vital infrastructure.
Economic expert Ahmed Abu Qamar explained to QNA that Israel's policies are systematically starving Gaza by controlling the local economy. The limited entry of essential goods and fuel has created monopolies, driven up prices, and weakened the purchasing power of citizens.
International and UN organizations remain deeply concerned about the restrictive measures, noting that aid reaching Gaza is insufficient to meet the population's basic needs. A new NGO registration regime imposed by Israeli authorities has further obstructed aid, according to 40 international humanitarian organizations.
Field reports consistently indicate that Israel uses starvation as a collective punishment tool against Gazans, despite the halt in military operations. The ongoing restrictions have led to a slow erosion of life components under the guise of security and logistics.
The UN and humanitarian agencies continue to urge the enforcement of the humanitarian accord to ensure unimpeded aid flow. However, the grim reality in Gaza remains unchanged, with the population's survival dependent on the limited aid allowed by the Israeli occupation.