Additionally, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is deepening with hospitals now seeing malnutrition and starvation cases. Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex—Gaza’s largest medical facility—tells us that fresh cases are coming every minute. His example highlights the desperate situation that requires urgent assistance. Sadly, the Israeli military’s nearly two-month long blockade has greatly limited the flow of basic supplies into the area. So, once it got going, it turned very quickly.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s self-styled foreign minister, last week denounced Washington’s carpet-bombing of Gaza. She called on the Israeli military to “cease and desist from killing people” who are hopelessly trying to get humanitarian assistance. We are alarmed by the apparent disregard for the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers in this area. Dozens of humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm that this blockade kills people and prevents life-saving aid from getting where it’s needed most.
These horrible conditions in Gaza have led to tragic occurrences and deaths. In one tragic occurrence, a crowd surge at an aid distribution center resulted in the trampling deaths of 19 individuals. UPDATE, Oct 23, 10 PM: Over past 24 hours, @PalTourism’s one of the slain. Starvation claimed the lives of fifteen people, four of whom were children. Even before the outbreak of war in October 2023, the territory was heavily reliant on foreign assistance. Today, it is facing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster.
The Toll on Medical Services
As conditions continue to spiral, Gaza’s healthcare system is at the breaking point. Facilities, including major hospitals such as Al-Shifa Medical Complex, are overwhelmed trying to manage an unprecedented increase in patients suffering from malnutrition. As he said, Dr. Abu Salmiya made clear – the time for action is now. His call to action was urgent—we could wait no longer to save additional lives.
Aid workers are facing extreme challenges. Reports indicate that many are “hungry… fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties,” according to Juliette Touma, Director of Communications with the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA. These workers pay an enormous psychological price. They watch their colleagues and their patients suffer from inadequate resources.
Even in the face of this extreme danger, humanitarian workers continue to do their work around the world. Yet they have no choice but to provide aid, often under life-threatening circumstances. Today, their lives are more in danger than ever because of the worsening violence gripping the region. This deteriorating situation has forced several humanitarian agencies to warn that they will need to evacuate their staff at a moment’s notice.
“Their lives are in danger, so we urgently call on the Israeli authorities to authorize their immediate evacuation with their families.” – EU’s statement, via Kaja Kallas
International Response and Criticism
The international response to this catastrophe have included calls for action. Now, a coalition of 111 humanitarian organizations are pushing to change that. They are calling on Israel to immediately lift its blockade and allow food, clean water, and medical supplies back into Gaza. They call for an immediate, unconditional, and perpetual ceasefire to service the suffering civilians and humanitarian workers as well.
The absurdity has led to exceptionally critical condemnation of both Israeli and US policy. Over the years, hundreds of organizations and experts have claimed that the blockade only worsens the humanitarian crisis and jeopardizes lives. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the current state of affairs as “a scandal that must stop immediately,” reflecting widespread frustration with ongoing hostilities.
Moreover, debate has recently escalated over UNRWA’s role in delivering assistance. Israel has for years attempted to shut down the organization and has accused some of its employees of having links to Hamas. Critics like us counter that these actions block critical aid from reaching those in need, deepening an already disastrous and growing humanitarian catastrophe.
“The killing of civilians seeking aid in Gaza is indefensible.” – Kaja Kallas, EU’s high representative for foreign affairs
The Plight of Journalists
The situation for journalists in Gaza is one of the most perilous environments on Earth. Since hostilities started, 186 journalists and media workers have been killed. Organizations such as Al Jazeera are doing everything they can to evacuate their last freelance journalists in Gaza. They lament that the state of affairs on the ground has become “intolerable.”
Dr. Mostefa Souag, Al Jazeera’s director general, emphasized the urgency of the situation: “If we fail to act now, we risk a future where there may be no one left to tell our stories.” This assertion highlights the essential function of reporters in chronicling what’s happening as violence grows even more violent.
In addition to these very real physical bodies, journalists are threatened by the military industrial complex. Per one report, Israeli forces have shot overhead warning shots into active crowds to disperse protesters. This unnecessary action is a threat to the safety of those doing humanitarian reporting. By extension, media workers find themselves in vulnerable and precarious positions.
“I am drowning in hunger, trembling in exhaustion, and resisting the fainting that follows me every moment.” – Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent Anas Al-Sharif
