Ten dead in 48 hours: Gaza is on the edge of the humanitarian disaster!

Ten dead in 48 hours: Gaza is on the edge of the humanitarian disaster!

In the last 48 hours, at least 10 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces. This is reported by the government media office of the besieged area. The number of fatalities was updated on Wednesday after a shocking video had shown tens of thousands of starving Palestinians who were looking for help in Rafah. In an incident, Israeli forces opened the fire to civilians who had gathered at a distribution point of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which violated at least 62 people. Details on the days on which the killings took place are unclear, but it was reported on both days of deaths.

The GHF opened a second of four planned distribution points in Gaza on Wednesday. However, the auxiliary distribution is criticized by UN representatives and the humanitarian community, which indicate that essential help could be more securely provided if Israel would allow access for aid organizations. The head of the Unrwa spoke out against the US-supported distribution model and called for the implementation of an un-assisted humanitarian system.

children and civilian victims

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated dramatically. Since the Israeli offensive, which began on October 7, over 11,000 Palestinians, including 4,506 children, have been killed. According to the WHO general director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a child is killed in Gaza every ten minutes. These figures illustrate the serious effects of the conflict on the civilian population and in particular on the most vulnerable groups such as children and women. Access to medical relief supplies, food, water and fuel is severely restricted by the siege, which has led to an increase in injuries and deaths.

The UN reported of over 123,308 injured and the alarm becomes loud, since only 17 hospitals in Gaza are partially functional. Overcrowded health facilities and the constant threat of attacks further tighten the situation. The Red Cross also pointed out shot field hospitals, which leads to a dangerous location for medical specialists and patients.

international reactions and humanitarian solutions

The international call for help and unhindered aid deliveries is increasing. Several members of the UN Security Council asked Israel to allow humanitarian support without restrictions. The Palestinian UN ambassador accused Israel of using humanitarian aid as a war weapon. This happens against the background of an increasingly aggressive military offensive of Israel, while the IDF explains to stay in Gaza.

The GHF, a newly founded organization of private US security forces and former soldiers, plans to distribute relief goods to Palestinians without having access to Hamas. However, UNICEF and other international aid organizations express concerns about the dangers that civilians are exposed to on the way to the distribution centers. These NGOs warn that especially old, disabled and sick people could have difficulty reaching the distribution points, which increases the risk of injuries and deaths.

The situation in Gaza remains worrying and requires urgent international attention. The US specialist for the Middle East expressed optimistic feelings about a possible long-term solution, while the reality on site is still shaped by violence, hunger and a catastrophic humanitarian crisis.