The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has urgently called for a temporary truce in northern Gaza, where health officials are struggling to treat a growing number of patients amid a relentless three-week Israeli assault. Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, described the humanitarian crisis as dire, with many individuals feeling abandoned and hopeless, stating, “In northern Gaza, people are just waiting to die.” He urged for an immediate ceasefire, even for a few hours, to facilitate the safe passage of families seeking refuge from the violence.
As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for critical discussions, he implored Israeli leaders to take advantage of recent military gains, including the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, to work towards an end to the year-long conflict. While Washington has called on Israel to permit the entry of more humanitarian supplies into northern Gaza, local medical personnel have reported that much of the aid has not reached those in need.
According to Israel’s military humanitarian unit, COGAT, 237 trucks filled with essential supplies have been delivered to northern Gaza in the past eight days. However, Gazan health officials assert that the situation remains critical, with over 20 individuals reportedly killed by Israeli forces and many bodies lying unattended due to the ongoing conflict. Munir Al-Bursh, the director of the Gaza health ministry, noted that hospitals are running out of coffins, leading officials to ask residents for fabric donations to prepare the deceased.
The Israeli military has been conducting operations to dismantle Hamas infrastructure in northern Gaza, particularly in the town of Jabalia. Residents have reported a growing sense of unease regarding evacuation orders, fearing they may be part of a broader Israeli strategy to clear the area for a potential buffer zone. The military denies these claims, asserting that the evacuations aim to protect civilians from Hamas fighters.
Compounding the crisis, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported that the ongoing war has decimated the Palestinian economy, which has contracted by 35% since the onset of the invasion. Quality of life metrics, including health and education, have regressed by 70 years, reverting to conditions last seen in the 1950s. In northern Gaza, hospitals and shelters for displaced families have been besieged, with medical services collapsing under the pressure. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, lamented the lack of critical supplies, stating, “Most of the medical supplies are not available.”
The overall death toll in Gaza is nearing 43,000, with the vast majority of the 2.3 million residents now displaced and relying on makeshift shelters. The current Israeli offensive was initiated following a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli casualties and approximately 250 hostages taken back into Gaza. As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the call for a truce grows more urgent, underscoring the dire need for international intervention to address the escalating violence and suffering in the region.
