Gaza news reports indicate that Israel continues its operations of killing and starvation. More than 100 non-governmental organizations warned on Wednesday, July 23, about the risk of a “mass famine” in the Gaza Strip.
The Al-Shifa Medical Complex announced that 21 children have died in Gaza over the past 72 hours “due to famine.” The humanitarian catastrophe faced by the residents of the area has reached unprecedented levels, with the United Nations warning that “famine is knocking at every door.”
Among the NGOs, including Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International, Oxfam International, and various branches of Médecins du Monde and Caritas, it was stated that “with the spread of mass famine in Gaza, our colleagues and the people we assist are suffering from malnutrition.”
The organizations called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the opening of all land crossings to the area, and the assurance of the free flow of humanitarian aid.
This statement follows accusations by the United Nations Human Rights Office that the Israeli army has killed more than a thousand people at aid distribution points in Gaza since the end of May, the majority near sites belonging to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization supported by the United States and Israel, with unclear funding sources.
Humanitarian organizations stated that “outside of the Gaza Strip directly, in warehouses – and even inside – tons of food, drinking water, medical supplies, shelter materials, and fuel remain unused, as humanitarian organizations are not allowed to access or deliver them.”
Malnutrition Worsens
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated on Tuesday, July 22, that the horrors witnessed in the Gaza Strip due to the war are “unmatched in modern history.”
During a meeting of the UN Security Council, Guterres remarked, “One only needs to witness the horror unfolding in Gaza, with levels of death and destruction unparalleled in modern history. Malnutrition is worsening, and famine is knocking at every door.”
No Progress in Negotiations
Reports from Gaza confirm that after more than 21 months of war, Israel continues daily bombing operations in the region. Recent indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas aimed at achieving a ceasefire have yielded no progress.
Israel claims it wants to free hostages held in Gaza and to expel Hamas from the area. In contrast, Hamas demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the entry of substantial amounts of aid, and an end to the war.
Since the war on Gaza began in October 2023, 59,106 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom are civilians, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health run by Hamas, which the United Nations considers reliable.
