UN sounds alarm as Gaza edges toward famine
The United Nations has issued a stark warning, expressing concern that the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is pushing Gaza towards a dire famine.
Anticipating a Security Council vote on Friday, the resolution aims to enhance aid to the Palestinian territory without explicitly calling for a ceasefire.
As diplomatic efforts for a temporary halt to hostilities unfold, negotiations within the UN Security Council are centered on a draft resolution that urges “urgent steps for safe humanitarian access” and the creation of conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities. Notably, it refrains from demanding an immediate end to the fighting.
Israel, backed by the United States, has opposed the term “ceasefire.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that there would be no ceasefire until the “elimination” of Hamas.
The conflict, initiated by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in October, has resulted in significant casualties on both sides.
The UN-backed global hunger monitoring system warned on Thursday that the entire population of Gaza faces an “imminent risk of famine,” with over half a million people experiencing “catastrophic conditions.”
The UN estimates that 1.9 million Gazans are now displaced out of a population of 2.4 million, living in crowded shelters with limited access to essential resources.
Diseases are spreading rapidly, and communication channels have been repeatedly disrupted.
Calls for a ceasefire have intensified, with displaced Gazans pleading for an end to the devastation.
Despite weeks of pressure, Israel approved the temporary reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing for aid deliveries. However, a recent strike on the Palestinian side of the crossing has hindered aid operations.
International figures, including British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and French President Emmanuel Macron, are urging increased humanitarian assistance for Gaza.
Israel faces mounting pressure from allies, including the United States, to protect civilians amid accusations of war crimes.
Efforts to broker a truce and release hostages have seen some progress, but the stark divergence in positions between Israel and Hamas remains a significant obstacle.
The fear of a wider conflict looms, with exchanges of fire along the Lebanon border and disruptions to Red Sea shipping by Iran-backed Yemeni rebels.
The situation remains highly volatile, raising concerns about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
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