As Israel’s devastating siege and bombardment of northern Gaza enters its 23rd day, humanitarian conditions have worsened significantly, with many Palestinians now facing starvation. An official from Oxfam informed Al Jazeera that the Israeli government is employing starvation as a weapon in its actions against the Palestinian people.
The warnings come in the wake of an urgent plea from Mahmoud Alsaqqa, Oxfam’s food security and livelihood lead in Gaza, who stated that the situation is dire, with some individuals “starving to death” due to a lack of supplies. He reported that aid agencies have not been able to reach people in the northern areas because of ongoing Israeli bombings.
Sources indicate that approximately 96% of Gaza’s population is enduring severe food shortages. UNICEF reports that nine out of ten children are not receiving the nutrition required for proper growth, with at least 37 children dying from malnutrition or dehydration amid the continued conflict.
The UN revealed that Israel has blocked around 83% of food aid from entering Gaza since the onset of the war, leaving about 50,000 children under five in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition by the year’s end.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and accountability for violations of international law, highlighting the catastrophic conditions resulting from Israel’s military actions. “The devastation and deprivation caused by military operations in North Gaza are unsustainable for the local population,” he said.
Reports on Sunday indicated renewed Israeli bombings in various neighborhoods, leading to mass displacements and further casualties. At least 35 individuals were killed in Beit Lahiya after strikes targeted multiple buildings in the area. The Israeli military reported ongoing operations to dismantle Hamas’s capabilities in northern Gaza.
Concerns also emerged as Israeli forces bombed evacuation centers, with testimonies suggesting that fleeing residents were harmed when trying to escape to designated safety zones.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, addressed the widespread humanitarian crisis, stating that “the entire population of Gaza is at risk of dying in a genocide that has been announced and executed under our watch.”
Mansour Shouman, a Palestinian journalist, accused Israel of deliberately forcing Palestinians to leave northern Gaza to establish settlements, describing ongoing heavy military actions that threaten the remaining medical services and infrastructure in the area.
As the situation escalates, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with urgent calls for action to protect the affected population in Gaza.
