The umpteenth alarm clock because of the misery in Gaza sounds. After 28 countries, 111 aid organizations also called for action on Wednesday. While Israel has started a ground surgery in the last – slightly quieter – piece of Gaza, hunger is also increasing again this month.
Deir Al-Balah was a slightly quieter place in the middle of Gaza for a long time, where Palestinians could find refuge. Now the tent camp has become a disaster site. The population must flee and look for a safe place that does not exist.
Aid organizations also see the misery growing. For example, five employees of Save the Children were forced, a spokesperson said. The office of aid organization Care in Deir Al-Balah has been bombed flat, says Deniz Dönmez, director of Care Nederland. A number of houses from care providers have been destroyed, including the house of Rezeq Awad, with whom Nu.nl spoke last week.
It paints a new statue of Gaza: the last part of the country where Palestinians were relatively safe has also been changed to war zone. Due to the new evacuation statements of the Israeli army (IDF), the area where the inhabitants of Gaza can and may have been reduced to only 12 percent, as can be seen on the map below.
That means that everyone in Gaza, around 1.8 million people, is crammed on top of each other in an area.
Help is ready, but is not allowed inside
And all those people are hungry and thirsty. Aid organizations see more and more people coming in with serious physical complaints due to hunger. In addition, food supplements are no longer collected for safety reasons. Rescuers are also weakened by hunger. “Our colleagues say they don’t know how to get food. Sometimes they are too weak to help others,” says Mirte Bosch of Oxfam Novib.
But there are hundreds of trucks waiting with help at the border with Gaza? That’s right, but what is the help of help that the border is not allowed? “We don’t get access to the stocks that exist, both outside and just within Gaza,” says a spokesperson for Save the Children.
Several organizations mention all kinds of restrictions and administrative rules that, according to them, make the distribution of goods “a nightmare”. For example, trucks outside the border are not allowed in Gaza, we have to work with special gazatrucks and drivers. Hardly permits are issued for those drivers and, according to Oxfam, Israel has currently only approved four trucks.
Death toll in Gaza reproduced by hunger
Thea Hilhorst, professor of humanitarian studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, endorses the situation of aid organizations. “Time and again it is worse and more and more people are killed by hunger.”
In a war there are always many more people killed by indirect violence as a disease and hunger, Hilhorst explains. “That is becoming increasingly clear. The death toll has reproduced by food blockages and attacks on medical health care.”
Research from The Lancet showed last year that the number of deaths due to hunger and illness is many times greater than the number of violent deaths. Probably it is about at least five times as many people. “Exact numbers are not yet mentioned, because we cannot do a population screening,” says Hilhorst.
The attacks on auxiliary points of food distributor GHF also ensure an increasing death toll. According to the United Nations, since the end of May, 766 people were killed by Israeli attacks on people who were waiting for food.
Israeli message increasingly clear: ‘Palestinians must leave’
The question that rises is: why? “Formally, the Israeli government will say that it is all intended to put pressure on Hamas,” says Alette Smeulers, professor of international crimes at the University of Groningen. “Israel wants Hamas to lose support from the population and that she turns against Hamas.”
But in reality it goes much further, says Smeulers. “Instead of only Hamas, the entire Palestinian population is portrayed as an enemy. The Palestinians are demonized and demonstrated.”
Setting up the GHF and the attacks at the aid points of that organization underline that. “It is not clear whether the army is instructed to shoot in order to make life impossible for the Palestinians,” says Smeulers. It could also be that the Israeli soldiers have changed by what they do. “You often see in conflicts that the behavior of soldiers is becoming increasingly extreme. They then enjoy power and violence against others.”
But according to the professor, the Israeli government makes it increasingly clear that the Palestinian population “just has to leave”. “They create circumstances that are no longer viable and seem to hope that the Palestinians leave Gaza.”
The UmpteENTH Alarm Bell About the Misery in Gaza is Sounding. After 28 Countries, 111 Aid Organizations also called for action on Wednesday. While Israel Has Started a Ground Operation in the Last – Slightly Quieter – Part of Gaza, Hunger is Increasing Again This Month.
Deir al-Balah was for a long time a slightly quieter place in the center of Gaza, where Palestinians Could Find Refuge. Now the Tent Camp Has Become a Disaster Area. The population must Flee and Look for a safe place that does not exist.
Aid organizations also see the misery growing. For example, five employees of save the children were forced to relocate, a spokesperson Said. The Office of Aid Organization Care in Deir al-Balah Has Been Bombed, Says Deniz Dönmez, Director of Care Netherlands. A number of aid workers’ homes have leg destroyed, including the home of rezeq awad, whom nu.nl spoke to last week.
It Paints a New Picture of Gaza: just the last piece of land where Palestinians were relatively safe has turned into a war zone. Due to the new evacuation orders from the Israeli Army (IDF), the area where the residents of gaza can and are allowed to be has been reduced to only 12 percent, as can be seen on the map Below.
That mean that everyone in Gaza, Some 1.8 Million People, is Crammed Together in An Area About the Size of Vlieland.
Aid is ready, but not allowed in
And all those people are hungry and thirsty. Aid Organizations Are Seeing More And More People Arrive with Serious Physical Complaints Due to Hunger. In Addition, Nutritional Supplements Are No Longer Collected for Safety Reasons. Aid Workers are also weakened by Hunger. “Our Colleagues Say they don’t know how to get food anymore. Sometimes they are too weak to help Others,” Says Mirte Bosch of Oxfam Novib.
But there are hundreds of trucks with aid waiting at the border with gaza, right? That’s right, but what good is aid that is not allowed to cross the border? “We do not have access to the supplies that are there, both outside and just inside gaza,” Says a spokesperson for save the children.
Several Organizations MENTION All Kinds of Restrictions and Administrative Rules That, Accordance to Them, Make the Distribution of Goods “A Nightmare”. For example, trucks outside the gaza border are not allowed in, special gaza trucks must be used and drivers must change. Permits are hardly Issued for those drivers and accordance to oxfam, Israel Has Currently only Approved Four Trucks.
Death Toll in Gaza Multiplied by Hunger
Thea Hilhorst, Professor of Humanitarian Studies at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, Endorses The Situation of Aid Organizations. “It is getting worse time and time again and more and more people are dying of hunger.”
In A War, Many More People Always who indirectly Violence Such As Disease and Hunger, Hilhorst Explains. “That is Becoming Increasingly Clear. The Death Toll Has Multiplied Due to Food Blockades and Attacks on Medical Health Care.”
Research From the Lancet Showed Last Year that the Number of Deaths From Hunger and Disease is many times Greater Than the Number of Violent Deaths. It is estimated that there are at Least Five Times as many Deaths. “Exact Numbers Cannot Yet Be Given, because we Cannot Conduct A Population Survey,” Says Hilhorst.
The Attacks on Aid Posts of Food Distributor GHF Are Also Causing An Increasing Death Toll. Accordance to the United Nations, 766 People Have Been Killed Since the End of May By Israeli Attacks On People Waiting for Food.
Israeli Message Increasingly Clear: ‘Palestinians must leave’
The Question That Then Arises is: Why? “Formally, The Israeli Government Will Say That It is All Intended to Put Pressure On Hamas,” Says Alette Smeulers, Professor of International Crimes at the University of Groningen. “Israel Wants Hamas to Lose Support from the population and for them to Turn Against Hamas.”
But in reality, it goes much further, says smeulers. “Instead of Just Hamas, The Entire Palestinian population is being portrayed as the enemy. The Palestinians Are Being demonized and Dehumanized.”
The Establishment of the GHF and the Attacks at the Aid Posts of That Organization Underline This. “It is not Clear Whether the Army is ordered to shoot specifically to make life impossible for the Palestinians,” Says Smeulers. It is also Possible that the Israeli Soldiers have changed by what they do. “You of see in conflicts that the behavior of Soldiers Becomes Increasingly Extreme. They then Enjoy the Power and Violence Against Others.”
But accordance to the professor, The Israeli Government is at Least Making it Increasingly Clear That the Palestinian Population “Simply Has To Leave”. “They are creating conditions that are no longer viable and seem to hope that the Palestinians will leave gaza.”