CONTENTS: 1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals

• Gaza’s grim reality: Death toll
• Palestinians in Gaza facing dire starvation
• Israel fails to protect aid workers
• Gaza faces disease outbreak crisis
• Gaza faces dire water crisis
• Ceasefire and aid access critical

Gaza’s grim reality: Death toll

1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals

With nearly 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October, the toll continues to mount alarmingly. The aftermath promises even grimmer scenes, with the likelihood of discovering more mass graves once the debris is cleared. Amidst this tragedy, there’s a chorus of cynical voices, often denying the harsh realities faced by Palestinians and disparaging their plight.

The suffering extends beyond immediate casualties; there are fears of a slow, agonizing demise from starvation, thirst, and disease exacerbated by dire conditions. The writer suggests that even death by bombing may seem preferable to a prolonged and inevitable decline under these circumstances.

Palestinians in Gaza facing dire starvation

The United Nations has issued a dire warning: by mid-July, over a million Palestinians could be facing death due to starvation. Already, approximately 210,000 people in northern Gaza are experiencing famine-like conditions, with the situation likely worsened since initial assessments.

This crisis is entirely man-made, with Israel accused of employing starvation as a tactic of warfare—a charge underscored by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. So far, 32 deaths have been attributed to malnutrition, including 28 children under the age of five, though these figures are expected to rise rapidly. More than 8,000 young children have been diagnosed with severe malnutrition, and many others are likely suffering similarly dire conditions beyond the reach of current assessments.

Israel fails to protect aid workers

1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals: Since early May, Israel has maintained the closure of the Rafah crossing and failed to fulfill promises to allow significant aid into Gaza. Despite occasional pauses in bombing, Israeli leaders appear to favor a continuing total siege similar to last October. They have responded to international pressure with symbolic gestures rather than substantive actions.

Tragically, those tasked with delivering aid have been targeted and killed. This conflict has seen more aid workers perish than any other since the UN’s inception. It’s evident that Israel not only hasn’t taken adequate steps to protect aid workers but has actively aimed at them.

1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals: Disease is poised to claim even more lives among Palestinians, with UN World Food Programme Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau describing the current challenges as unprecedented in his experience.

In southern Gaza, the situation is rapidly worsening, where one million people lack access to clean water and sanitation. Skau vividly described driving through sewage-filled streets. Various diseases such as skin ailments, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and respiratory infections are spreading, with the looming threat of a significant cholera outbreak exacerbated by the summer heat.

Israel bears significant responsibility for this crisis. Reports indicate that four out of Gaza’s six wastewater treatment plants, crucial for managing sewage and preventing disease, have been damaged or destroyed. The remaining two are also non-operational due to fuel shortages and other supply issues.

The decimation of Gaza’s health infrastructure by Israeli actions has further compounded the situation. Since October, the World Health Organization has documented 464 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza, with not a single hospital operational in Rafah.

As a result, deaths from disease, compounded by malnutrition and unsanitary conditions, are expected to soar.

Gaza faces dire water crisis

1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals: Palestinians in Gaza are being forced to consume contaminated or salty water. A June 7 assessment in Deir Al-Balah revealed alarming conditions, with water availability averaging less than two liters per person per day at one displacement site and plunging to as little as 0.7 liters at another—well below the internationally recognized minimum survival requirement of three liters daily. Even when accessible, water is often unsafe and polluted.

Analysis based on satellite data has shown that half of Gaza’s water and sanitation facilities were destroyed as of April, and the situation has worsened since then.

This intolerable situation must be addressed urgently. Israel continues to hinder aid efforts into Gaza, with less aid entering in May compared to April. Recently, an aid truck carrying medical and food supplies intended for 10,000 Palestinian children was inexplicably turned away, as reported by UNICEF.

Ceasefire and aid access critical

1 Million Gazans Face Starvation as Israel Blocks Aid and Bombs Hospitals: The urgent and necessary steps forward are evident, though they seem distant. A ceasefire is essential, coupled with unrestricted humanitarian access to distribute aid throughout Gaza. Many critically ill individuals require immediate treatment outside the Strip. Failing to act will result in more deaths from malnutrition and disease than from bombings. It also solidifies mounting evidence that Israel’s actions amount to genocide, echoing threats voiced by numerous leaders, including the president, prime minister, and defense minister.

Death caused by disease and starvation cannot be halted abruptly. Thousands of Palestinians may have already passed the point of survival, with others teetering on the edge. While a ceasefire may pause airstrikes, the forces driving these lethal outcomes continue unabated.