Half of Gaza's population faces famine

After more than two months of retaliatory attacks against Hamas, Israel is winning the battle. However, the consequences of this war have left more than half of the population in the Gaza Strip facing starvation.

The United Nations has warned that famine is becoming very serious for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Photo: REUTERS

The UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) said more than 1.9 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been forced to flee their homes and are finding it difficult to find shelter or food following the Israeli offensive, a situation it called “unacceptable”.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concern about the attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital and called for an immediate ceasefire and sustainable humanitarian access to health facilities in the Gaza Strip.

According to incomplete statistics from the Gaza Health Ministry, Israel's attacks have killed more than 18,200 people and injured nearly 50,000. The Kerem Shalom crossing has been closed since a week-long ceasefire collapsed on December 1, causing aid to be suspended. More worryingly, the war has now reached its climax as Israel continues to pursue Hamas by all means, with the goal of gaining control of the Gaza Strip.

The UN also said that the UN Satellite Center (UNOSAT) determined that 18% of Gaza's infrastructure has been destroyed since the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Specifically, UNOSAT identified 10,049 structures destroyed, 8,243 severely damaged and 19,087 moderately damaged, for a total of 37,379 affected structures. This corresponds to about 18% of the total number of structures in the Gaza Strip. The statement said: "These findings underscore the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and support to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip."

CNN reported on December 12 that the UN General Assembly voted to call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. The resolution calling for a ceasefire was passed by a vote of 153, 10 and 23. The US and Israel were two of the 10 countries that voted against it. In addition to calling for a ceasefire, the resolution also demanded that Hamas release all hostages immediately. Last week, the resolution was not passed due to the US using its veto power.

Although non-binding, UN General Assembly resolutions still have political influence and represent the views of the international community.

Earlier, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the US was closely monitoring the conflict and was in dialogue with the Israeli government about its compliance with the laws of war after receiving weapons from the US. Despite the close monitoring, the US also expressed concern about reports that Israel used US-supplied white phosphorus munitions in an October attack in southern Lebanon. Israel has denied this information.

Observers say that although Israel's counterattack on Hamas was a legitimate self-defense, the counterattack targeting civilians, leading to a humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, has caused international outrage. This move will cause Israel to lose its reputation in the world and will likely be isolated if it does not promptly call a humanitarian ceasefire to help innocent people living in poverty and disease.

Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said on December 13 that Hamas is ready to negotiate with Israel on any agreement or initiative that could lead to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, Israel has yet to respond.

HN synthesis

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