BREAKING: Israel is set to halt humanitarian aid into northern Gaza, intensifying its military offensive against Hamas. This decision follows the declaration of Gaza City as a combat zone and is expected to spark international outrage as conditions for Palestinians and remaining hostages worsen after nearly 23 months of conflict.
Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, revealed that airdrops over Gaza City will cease in the coming days, coupled with a significant reduction in aid truck deliveries as Israel prepares to evacuate hundreds of thousands of civilians south. The announcement comes as Israeli forces ended recently implemented daytime pauses in fighting, declaring Gaza City a stronghold of Hamas and alleging continued use of a tunnel network, despite extensive prior raids.
The United Nations and humanitarian partners have criticized these measures, asserting that they fall drastically short of the 600 trucks of aid needed daily to address the humanitarian crisis. Recent AP video footage captured large explosions across Gaza, highlighting the escalating violence. Strikes on the outskirts of Gaza City have surged, coinciding with reports of famine conditions documented by global food security experts.
As of Saturday, October 21, 2023, there have been no airdrops for several days, marking a stark change from the almost daily deliveries seen in recent weeks. Israeli military officials have not provided comments on how they intend to deliver aid amid this major shift affecting over two million people in Gaza.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has issued alarms regarding the planned evacuations, stating,
“Such an evacuation would trigger a massive population movement that no area in the Gaza Strip can absorb, given the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure and the extreme shortages of food, water, shelter and medical care.”
With hundreds of residents already fleeing Gaza City, many are seen loading their remaining possessions onto pickups or donkey carts. Tragically, Israeli gunfire has reportedly killed four individuals seeking aid in central Gaza, according to health officials at Al-Awda Hospital. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that 15 people died and at least 206 others were injured while attempting to receive aid in just 24 hours. Additionally, 10 individuals, including three children, succumbed to starvation and malnutrition during the same period.
The death toll in Gaza has reached a staggering 63,371 Palestinians since the onset of the war, with the ministry emphasizing that approximately half of those deceased are women and children. This data, provided by the Hamas-run Health Ministry, is regarded by the UN and independent experts as the most reliable source on casualties in the ongoing conflict.
As the situation escalates, 48 hostages remain in Gaza from the over 250 taken during Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. Israel believes that 20 hostages are still alive, raising fears among their families that the expanding military operations will increase risks to their safety. Families are prepared to rally again this evening, demanding a ceasefire to bring all hostages home.
This developing situation underscores the urgent humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza and the dire need for immediate international intervention.
