Truckloads of aid have been idled at Egypt’s border with Gaza, leaving residents and humanitarian groups desperate for water, food, and fuel. The tiny Palestinian territory has been sealed off by Israel following last week’s rampage by Hamas, pushing it to the brink of collapse. Hospitals are on the verge of losing electricity, which puts the lives of thousands of patients at risk. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes are searching for bread. Amidst punishing airstrikes from Israel and ongoing rocket attacks from Hamas, tensions are also mounting near the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel’s decision to cut off the entry of supplies into Gaza has left all eyes on the Rafah crossing, the territory’s sole connection to Egypt. Mediators are working towards a ceasefire that would allow aid to enter and trapped foreigners to leave. However, Israeli airstrikes have forced the crossing to shut down, further exacerbating the crisis.
On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, towns have been evacuated due to repeated exchanges of fire between the Israeli military and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently met with Israel’s defence minister, and US President Joe Biden is considering a visit to Israel after receiving an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This latest conflict between Israel and Hamas has proven to be the deadliest of the five Gaza wars for both sides. The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 2,778 people, with more than 9,700 wounded. In Israel, over 1,400 people have been killed, the majority of them civilians targeted in Hamas’ assault on October 7. Israeli airstrikes have taken at least 199 hostages into Gaza, according to the military, while Hamas claims to be holding between 200 and 250 hostages, including foreigners.
The head of Israel’s Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar, took responsibility for failing to avert Hamas’ surprise attack. However, the focus now remains on the plight of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, who face a dire combination of airstrikes, dwindling supplies, and mass evacuations. Over one million individuals have already fled their homes, with 60% seeking refuge in the southern part of Gaza. Hospitals are on the brink of running out of generator fuel within the next 24 hours, threatening the lives of thousands of patients who rely on life-saving equipment. Additionally, the lack of water has led many to drink dirty or sewage-filled water, increasing the risk of disease spread.
The situation is particularly dire for the more than 400,000 displaced people in the south, who have crowded into schools and other UN facilities. However, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is unable to provide them with any supplies. UNRWA is struggling with severe water shortages, with only one litre available per staff member trapped in the territory.
Desperation is growing as people search for food and water, with long lines forming outside the few operating bakeries. Some individuals have waited for up to 10 hours to obtain just a kilogram of bread. Those in the northern parts of Gaza still face airstrikes, while others remain within the evacuation zone despite Hamas urging them to ignore the order. Doctors and hospital staff are refusing to evacuate, as doing so would mean abandoning critically ill patients and newborns on life support.
Amidst the crisis, Israel has insisted that the siege won’t be lifted until all captives are released by Hamas. The situation remains tense as Israel prepares for a major campaign against Hamas in Gaza’s north, where the militants have extensive tunnel and rocket networks. Meanwhile, Israel’s northern border with Lebanon saw further tensions, with Hezbollah snipers destroying cameras at several Israeli army posts.
As the situation escalates, the US government has begun evacuating American citizens from Israel to Cyprus via ship, and commercial airlines have largely halted flights into Ben-Gurion International Airport. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to Israel for a second time in less than a week as part of efforts to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a broader war.
With the crisis intensifying, both Israeli and Palestinian civilians continue to suffer the devastating consequences of the conflict. Urgent international intervention is needed to address the immediate humanitarian needs and find a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
