How has the new Israeli offensive in Gazan city of Deir al-Balah affected aid operations? | DW News

Key Concepts

• Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
• Starvation and malnutrition
• Aid access and distribution challenges
• International Humanitarian Law (IHL) violations
• Israeli military operations in Gaza
• UN and humanitarian organization operations
• Accountability and enforcement of international law
• Ceasefire and political solution

Humanitarian Situation in Gaza: A "Horror Show"

• Secretary General's Assessment: Antonio Guterres describes the situation as a "horror show," emphasizing the denial of conditions for aid distribution.
• Starvation Deaths: Over 100 people in Gaza have reportedly died of starvation in recent days (according to Hamas-run health ministry).
• Widespread Hunger: The UN estimates that a third of the population goes without food for multiple days.
• Desperation: The UN World Food Program reports that Gaza's hunger crisis has reached "new and astonishing levels of desperation."
• Example: A Palestinian man says it's been four days since his family has eaten, and his son is crying for food.
• Malnutrition Rates: Malnutrition rates have been increasing for the last four months and continue to soar. The situation is deteriorating rapidly.

Challenges to Aid Access and Distribution

• Insufficient Aid: Humanitarian groups state that the amount of aid allowed into Gaza by Israel is "not nearly enough."
• Perilous Access: Over a thousand Gazans have been killed since May while seeking food, mostly near distribution sites.
• Conflicting Accounts: The Israeli army claims it only fires warning shots near aid sites, but witnesses report regular firing at crowds collecting food.
• Quote: "People go to the aid site in Zakim, but instead of leaving with a bag of flour, they leave in a bag of flour dead or with an amputated leg with both legs amputated."
• Disruption of Operations: Israeli ground operations in Al-Balah are significantly disrupting aid operations.
• Damaged Facilities: A WHO warehouse in Deir al-Balah was hit, resulting in the loss of medical supplies.
• Displacement Orders: Displacement orders are affecting dozens of UN and partner facilities, including guesthouses, warehouses, medical points, and water infrastructure.
• Critical Infrastructure at Risk: The southern desalination plant, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on for drinking water, is at risk of damage.

UN and Humanitarian Operations Under Pressure

• UN Staff at Risk: UN staff are operating under "immense pressure" and "very difficult and dangerous circumstances."
• Quote: "Every time I leave Gaza for a few days when I come back I'm absolutely aghast at how much worse it had become." - Olga Terfkco, spokesperson of UN OCHA.
• Constrained Operations: Aid operations are already "extremely constrained" due to displacement orders.
• Call for Unrestricted Access: The UN is calling for unrestricted entry of aid into Gaza and conditions for safe delivery.
• Relationship with Israel: The relationship between the UN and Israel is strained, but constant communication is maintained to request access and improved conditions.
• ICRC Losses: The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has lost six staff members in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
• IHL Violations: The ICRC emphasizes the need to protect humanitarians and critical infrastructure under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
• Transparency with Israel: The ICRC operates in full transparency with Israel, sharing information about aid distribution, healthcare facilities, and staff locations.
• Mass Casualty Events: The ICRC is treating a large number of gunshot victims and shrapnel injuries among people seeking aid.
• Overwhelmed Facilities: The ICRC's 60-bed field hospital is overwhelmed, often treating over 100 patients with stretchers on the floor.
• WHO Operations Affected: Israeli military entered WHO premises, detained staff, and hit a warehouse, resulting in the loss of medical supplies.
• Denied Permits: WHO requests for movement and permits for foreign medical teams are often denied. 58 international medical personnel were denied visas in the past couple of months.
• Health System Collapse: Hospitals are running out of fuel, medical supplies are depleted, and health workers are exhausted and displaced.

International Law and Accountability

• Genocide Accusations: The term "genocide" is increasingly being used to describe the situation in Gaza.
• UN High Commissioner's Statement: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that Israel appears to be inflicting conditions of life on Palestinians in Gaza that are increasingly incompatible with their continued existence as a group.
• Martin Griffiths' Statement: Martin Griffiths, former UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs, said that if the legal threshold for genocide is met, "we must call it genocide and act accordingly."
• Weakened International Law: International law has been weakened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israel's military assault in Gaza.
• Lack of Enforceability: The problem is not the lack of international law, but the lack of enforceability and accountability.
• Political Will Needed: Sustained political will is needed to enforce international law.
• Role of the US and Germany: The US and Germany provide 90-95% of all weapons imports into Israel.
• Sanctions as a Tool: Sanctions, halting weapons shipments, and suspending free trade agreements could influence Israel's behavior.
• Missed Opportunity: Europe missed an opportunity by not taking action on association agreements with Israel.

Conclusion

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire, with widespread starvation, limited aid access, and ongoing violence. International law is being undermined by a lack of enforcement and accountability. The UN and humanitarian organizations are struggling to provide assistance under extremely challenging and dangerous conditions. A ceasefire and a political solution are urgently needed to address the crisis and prevent further suffering.