Gaza faces starvation as aid stalls, death toll rises
More than one hundred aid agencies warned on Wednesday that ‘mass starvation’ is increasing in Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry also reported that 10 people died from malnutrition in the last 24 hours. The aid organizations accused Israel of preventing aid distribution within the Gaza Strip.
The UN World Food Program said nearly a third of Gaza’s population goes multiple days without eating. However, Israel disputed the claims, stating that 950 trucks full of aid are currently waiting for distribution.
The UN has repeatedly complained about the difficulties in getting Israeli authorities to collect and transport aid supplies through military zones. The organization said the biggest challenge is securing a promise from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that Palestinians will not be harmed while seeking aid.
The UN human rights office reported that more than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to access aid in Palestine. Israel rejected the claim, saying the death toll was exaggerated.
“This cannot be stressed enough: this unacceptable pattern is the opposite of what facilitating humanitarian operations should look like. Absolutely no one should have to risk their lives to get food,” said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that the U.S. Trump administration’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, are set to meet on today in Rome to discuss a possible Israel-Palestine ceasefire.
The proposed agreement is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire allowing the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
On Monday, the European Union and 28 governments called on Israel to facilitate the safe distribution of aid, stating that suffering among Palestinians has “reached new depths.”
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the total death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza has surpassed 59,000. The conflict has been ongoing since October 2023.
