The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees has reported that Israel is obstructing humanitarian aid from reaching northern Gaza, where essential supplies such as food and medicine are critically needed. The agency’s leader emphasized that hospitals have suffered attacks, leaving them without power and unable to care for the injured.
Reports indicate that the remaining shelters provided by the UN agency are severely overcrowded, forcing displaced individuals to live in unsanitary conditions. There are alarming accounts of people attempting to flee being killed amid the turmoil.
Israeli military operations have intensified in northern Gaza, targeting locations where they claim Hamas fighters are regrouping. Eyewitnesses have reported that Israeli forces are surrounding hospitals and shelters for displaced people.
While the Israeli military asserts that it is facilitating civilian evacuations and ensuring hospital operations continue, reports from medics reveal distressing incidents, including Israeli troops storming a school and setting it ablaze after detaining men inside.
Further tragic news emerged as at least 10 people were reported killed by Israeli artillery fire, which struck a camp for displaced individuals at a school in Jabalia refugee camp. Disturbing videos circulating online appear to show casualties, including children and women, among those affected in the tented camp.
In the wake of these events, the Israeli military stated that it is investigating these reports. Additionally, the military unit responsible for Gaza crossings announced the transfer of 41 aid trucks and six fuel tankers to northern Gaza in the past day, along with the delivery of polio vaccines by a UNICEF mission.
However, the UN reported that no aid had been permitted into northern Gaza during the initial weeks of the Israeli military’s operations. Recent developments saw a limited “trickle” of aid allowed through, following a warning from the US to Israel regarding the need for increased access to humanitarian efforts.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has been seeking access to the Falouja area of Jabalia but has faced denial from Israeli authorities. They shared a poignant video of a resident pleading for help for individuals trapped under rubble from an airstrike.
Amidst these crises, an International Committee of the Red Cross representative described the conditions for the estimated 400,000 residents in northern Gaza as “unimaginable,” highlighting the impact of intense fighting and evacuation orders that are fragmenting communities. Many people, including vulnerable groups such as the elderly and sick, are unable to evacuate due to the perilous situation.
Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed, with a severe lack of fuel, electricity, and water supplies. Medical professionals are urging immediate aid, including food, water, and medical care, as well as a cessation of the ongoing violence.
One hospital near Jabalia has reported ongoing shortages, including a lack of water and food for several consecutive days, as medical staff await clearance from the Israeli military to operate its backup generator.
This situation escalated following Israel’s campaign against Hamas, initiated after a significant attack on October 7, 2023, that resulted in numerous casualties. Since then, reports indicate that more than 42,000 individuals have died in Gaza, according to local health authorities.
