Gaza After Ceasefire: Humanitarian Crisis Threatens Children and Families

Key Concepts:

• Fragile Ceasefire
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• Israeli Blockade
• Aid Inflow and Restrictions
• Destruction of Infrastructure
• Displacement of Population
• Health Facilities
• Winter Conditions
• Malnutrition
• Chronic Illnesses

Impact of the Ceasefire on Suffering in Gaza

Amjad Shaw, Director of the Palestinian NGO Network, states that while the ceasefire has stopped the daily killings and the high number of Palestinian casualties, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has deteriorated due to extensive Israeli destruction of homes, infrastructure, and facilities. The continuous blockade on Gaza, with Israel still controlling over 50% of its distance, has left 1.5 million displaced individuals facing immense challenges.

Humanitarian Aid and Blockade

• Dependency: 90% of Gaza's population relies entirely on humanitarian aid.
• Limited Inflow: Only very limited amounts of aid are entering, and often with specific items that are not yet sufficient.
• Unexploded Devices: Thousands of bodies of martyrs remain under rubble, inaccessible due to unexploded devices.
• Health Sector Devastation: Health facilities are destroyed, and the entry of medical aid is severely restricted, with only 10% of needs being met.
• Critical Moment: Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian conditions are worsening daily due to the continuous Israeli blockade and the closure of most Gaza crossings.
• Crossing Closures: The Rafah crossing is closed for individuals, patients, and critically injured people needing medical evacuation, leading to daily loss of lives. Three crossings in the north are completely closed, and only two are operating with limited capacity, described as "intentional deliberate suffocation."

Israeli Narrative vs. On-the-Ground Reality of Aid

• Israeli Claim: Israel asserts it is fulfilling its commitment to allow aid trucks and suggests that if insufficient aid is reaching Gaza, Hamas might be stealing it.
• International Organizations' View: International organizations have not seen widespread evidence of Hamas stealing aid.
• UN Data: The UN reports that 107 of its aid requests since the ceasefire began have been refused by Israel.
• NGO Perspective (Amjad Shaw):
  • Misleading Calculations: Israel uses misleading calculations by including commercial trucks in aid figures.
  • Actual Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian aid agencies are receiving approximately 180-200 trucks daily.
  • Flower for Bakeries: A significant portion (80-90 trucks) of this is flour for bakeries, which cannot be considered general humanitarian aid for the population's diverse needs.
  • Commercial Items: The population cannot afford commercial items due to lost incomes and total dependence on aid.
  • Intended Suffocation: Israel intentionally manipulates numbers to appear compliant, but the reality behind the figures is different.
  • Shortfall in Agreed Aid: Israel has not delivered the 600 trucks agreed upon in the humanitarian protocol under the ceasefire.

Specific Shortages and Needs

• Shelter: Only a few thousand tents have arrived, while 300,000 are needed.
• Infrastructure Repair: Bulldozers are absent, preventing road clearing for aid delivery and the retrieval of bodies from rubble.
• Medical Evacuation: Only 10% of Palestinians needing medical evacuation are getting out on time.
• Water Facilities: Water facilities remain destroyed, and Israel denies entry of basic materials for rehabilitating water networks and wells.

Deteriorating Conditions with Approaching Winter

• Exposure: Thousands of families are living on the Gaza beach or under the rubble of their homes, vulnerable to collapsing structures.
• Flooding: The first rains caused flooding of the solid waste lagoon, posing catastrophic consequences.
• Inadequate Shelter: Existing tents are damaged and cannot protect families from the elements.
• Lack of Winter Supplies: There are no winter clothes, mattresses, or blankets available.
• Catastrophic Outlook: The situation is described as catastrophic, with urgent calls for international intervention to pressure Israel to lift the blockade and allow necessary supplies.
• Denied Supplies: Tens of thousands of truckloads of aid, including clothes, mattresses, and blankets, have been denied entry.
• Vulnerable Populations: Children are suffering from malnutrition, and pregnant women and elders are lacking essential chronic medicines.

Conclusion

Amjad Shaw emphasizes that despite the ceasefire, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain critical due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and the severe restrictions on aid. The destruction of infrastructure, lack of essential supplies, and inadequate shelter, especially with winter approaching, paint a dire picture of the suffering endured by the Palestinian population. The narrative presented by Israel regarding aid delivery is contested by on-the-ground realities and data from international organizations, highlighting a deliberate suffocation of the Gaza Strip.