A dire situation unfolds in the encircled Gaza Strip as aid agencies report a deepening hunger crisis among Palestinians.
The United Nations General Assembly is prepared to vote on an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, intensifying concerns for the helpless population.
Since the recent US veto of a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, hundreds more civilians have lost their lives in Israel’s assault on Gaza.
Most of the 2.3 million residents in Gaza have been displaced, grappling with the impossibility of finding refuge or food in the densely populated enclave. The UN World Food Programme has alarming statistics, stating that half of the population is now facing starvation.
“Hunger stalks everyone,” says UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees. The repeated displacement of people has led to deaths not only from the ongoing bombardments but also from hunger and cold.
Reports highlight incidents of aid truck robbing and skyrocketing prices, painting a grim picture of the humanitarian crisis on the ground.
Israel argues that its instructions for people to move are protective measures aimed at civilians, as it continues its efforts to neutralize Hamas fighters.
The toll of the conflict is staggering, with Israel claiming that Hamas’s October 7 cross-border attack led to 1,200 casualties and 240 hostages, of whom about 100 have since been freed.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the Gaza health ministry reports that Israel’s retaliatory assault has resulted in 18,205 Palestinian deaths and nearly 50,000 injuries.
The upcoming vote in the 193-member General Assembly is expected to mirror the language of the blocked Security Council resolution from the previous week.
While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they carry significant political weight and reflect global sentiments. Observers anticipate that the vote will gather substantial support, echoing the assembly’s previous call for “an immediate, durable, and sustained humanitarian truce” in October.
Against this backdrop, 12 Security Council envoys recently visited the Rafah border crossing with Gaza, the sole point of limited humanitarian aid and fuel entry.
The absence of a US representative during this visit underscores the complexities surrounding international responses to the conflict.
In the United States, President Joe Biden, facing criticism for his support of Israel’s response to the October 7 attacks, expressed solid commitment during a White House celebration for the Jewish holiday of Hannukah. The situation remains complex, and as the global community awaits the UN General Assembly’s decision, the difficulty of those in Gaza continues to worsen, demanding urgent attention and action on the international stage.
