Humanitarian access in Gaza has sunk to alarming lows. According to a United Nations official, getting essential supplies to residents in parts of the north—the area under siege—is nearly impossible.
This stark reality stands in contrast to recent claims from the United States, which suggested that Israel is not hindering humanitarian aid to Gaza. This assertion seems to sidestep the complexities of U.S. military support for Israel amidst the ongoing crisis.
Israel maintains that it is actively working to address the humanitarian challenges in Gaza. Yet, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, painted a different picture during a press briefing in Geneva. “From our viewpoint, every conceivable indicator related to humanitarian assistance is heading in the wrong direction,” he stated, responding to inquiries about the situation.
Laerke expressed specific worries about northern Gaza, where residents have been ordered to evacuate south due to the continued military operations by Israeli forces, which have been ongoing for over a month.
After a recent Israeli army strike in Deir al-Balah, Palestinian residents examined the destruction left in its wake.
According to Israel, their military actions aim to disrupt Hamas fighters’ ability to regroup. However, Laerke’s critique of the humanitarian crisis underscores a different reality. “We’re seeing a dire situation in northern Gaza, effectively under siege, where delivering aid feels nearly impossible. The operation is being strangled,” he remarked.
He shared a striking metaphor from one of his colleagues: “When it comes to humanitarian work, it’s as if we’re being asked to leap into action while our legs are broken.” In other words, the obstacles are insurmountable.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin addressed this growing crisis in an October 13 letter. They outlined specific steps that Israeli officials must undertake within 30 days to alleviate conditions in Gaza, warning that failure to comply could have repercussions for U.S. military aid to Israel.
Non-UN humanitarian organizations echo concerns about Israel’s alleged failure to heed these demands, a claim that Israel has firmly denied.
Recent data from the Gaza health ministry reveals the devastating toll of the ongoing conflict: over 43,000 Palestinians have perished, and more than 103,000 have sustained injuries since the military offensive began on October 7, 2023.
In a related development, a senior official from Hamas recently noted that the group is “open to a ceasefire” in Gaza and called on President-elect Donald Trump to leverage his influence to pressure Israel into halting hostilities.
“Hamas is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, provided a proposal is presented and Israel respects its terms,” stated Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, during an interview with AFP.
He continued, “We urge the U.S. administration and Trump to advocate for the end of the ongoing aggression.” Naim elaborated that Hamas has communicated to intermediaries its willingness to consider any proposal that could establish lasting peace and included provisions for military withdrawal from Gaza, the safe return of displaced individuals, a serious prisoner exchange, and the entrance of humanitarian assistance for reconstruction efforts.
Interestingly, these conditions mirror those put forth by Hamas in previous ceasefire discussions since the onset of the ongoing conflict.
The heart of the matter remains painfully clear: amid the political maneuvering and military strategies, the civilians of Gaza bear the brunt of the tragic fallout. It’s imperative that compassion and humanitarian considerations prevail over geopolitical concerns in finding a resolution.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
