Escalating Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
As Israel continues to expand its military operations against displaced Palestinians amid a wave of international condemnation, hospitals in the Gaza Strip reported on Tuesday, July 22, that 21 children have died in the past 72 hours due to malnutrition or starvation.
Since the onset of the war in October 2023, 2.4 million Gaza residents have been living under an intense blockade imposed by Israel. They are facing severe shortages of food and essential supplies, while humanitarian aid distribution centers are frequently subjected to gunfire.
The United Nations has accused the Israeli army of killing over 1,000 individuals since late May, many of whom were waiting for humanitarian assistance.
On Tuesday morning, the Gaza Civil Defense reported the deaths of 15 Palestinians and injuries to 50 others due to Israeli airstrikes. This followed a condemnation from the World Health Organization regarding the bombardment of its headquarters and main warehouse in Deir al-Balah.
The Civil Defense continues to account for daily fatalities caused by Israeli forces, whether in remaining homes, displacement tents, or while individuals wait for aid.
The killing and starvation in Gaza persist, despite a call from 25 Western countries to immediately end the devastating war, emphasizing that the suffering of civilians threatened by famine has reached “unprecedented levels.”
In a distress call, the director of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza, Fadl Naeem, told AFP that doctors and medical staff are “starving, deprived of food, sleep, and rest.”
He highlighted the difficult humanitarian conditions faced by healthcare workers who “continue to work to save the lives of injured citizens and patients, even as their bodies collapse and we can do nothing.”
