While Israel intensifies its attacks and more deaths occur, the last hospitals in Gaza are crumbling.
Although the Israeli army (IDF) reported that a hundred trucks with aid goods crossed the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Wednesday, nothing has yet reached the Palestinians. The goods have not yet been distributed, according to the United Nations. This is because Israel only gives the UN access via an unsafe route, preventing organizations from sending people to distribute the goods.
The Israeli authorities have only granted access to areas within Gaza “that we considered unsafe,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. In those areas, not only are Israeli attacks possible, but there is also a high chance that the trucks will be plundered.
Israel opened the border with Gaza for the delivery of humanitarian aid on Monday for the first time in eleven weeks. Goods are being allowed through in limited quantities, while the Gazan population is suffering more and more from hunger due to the Israeli blockade.
Five trucks crossed the border on Tuesday, but it is also unclear whether they reached the Palestinians. In the video below, you can see how the distribution of food leads to chaos.
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Distribution of Food Turns Into Chaos in Gaza
Al Awda Hospital Last Lifeline in Northern Gaza
In the north of Gaza, there is only one lifeline left: the Al Awda Hospital. But that hospital is also only partially operational. The buildings have been hit by bombings at least twenty times, leaving large parts in ruins.
The hospital is now being besieged again by Israel. Over the past month, people in the vicinity of the hospital have been forced to evacuate three times. Medical personnel refuse to evacuate, as this would endanger patients, Relief International said in a press release. Aid workers can do less and less for the Palestinians because supplies are almost exhausted.
In central Gaza, there is a second Al Awda hospital. That is one of the last facilities that still offers some care for mothers with children. But now that supplies are dwindling and no additions are possible, time is running out.
Malnutrition is Becoming An Increasing Problem
The hospital’s nutrition services support hundreds of malnourished patients every month. But that is not possible for much longer. Children with extreme malnutrition need special nutrition and medical care to recover, but that help is not available.
If supply chains remain blocked, these essential services will have to be discontinued within a few weeks. That is while more and more people need this kind of life-saving support.
If this continues, more children will die and up to 71,000 children under the age of five may suffer from acute malnutrition in the coming year, reports the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.
Europe Comes with Aid Package for Palestinians
The European Commission is allocating an additional 50 million euros for humanitarian aid in Gaza and the West Bank. This is a response to the deteriorating situation in the Palestinian Territories.
The safety of humanitarian workers in Gaza must be guaranteed, emphasizes European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib (Crisis Management). With the extra support, the Commission wants to “alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians.” Lahbib emphasized that safe access for aid workers is needed to ensure that the aid reaches the right people.
Israel Shoots at Diplomats in West Bank
Not only in Gaza, but also in the West Bank, Israeli violence continues. The army fired warning shots there on Wednesday during a visit by foreign diplomats.
Among them was at least one Dutchman. It was an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All diplomats remained unharmed.
The Palestinian Authority says that soldiers “opened heavy fire” from the Jenin refugee camp. In the video below, you can see diplomats running away. The IDF says that it was warning shots, because the delegation did not follow the agreed route.
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