Gaza (Washington Insider Magazine)— A senior UN aid official has issued a stark warning that half of Gaza’s population is facing starvation as fighting in the region continues. Carl Skau, the deputy director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), stated that only a fraction of the necessary supplies has managed to enter the Strip, with nine out of ten residents unable to secure daily meals.
Skau emphasized the dire conditions, noting that aid deliveries have become “almost impossible.” In the wake of ongoing airstrikes aimed at Hamas, Israel maintains that these operations are necessary to eliminate the group and recover Israeli hostages. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht acknowledged the civilian toll, expressing regret but stressing the lack of alternatives in their military strategy.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi urged soldiers to “press harder” against Hamas, indicating that they are witnessing signs of the group’s collapse. Concurrently, the Biden administration has exercised emergency powers to authorize the sale of 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition to Israel, valued at over $106 million.
Since the escalation began on October 7, following a Hamas attack that resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and 240 hostages taken, movement in and out of Gaza has been heavily restricted. Israel’s response included closing its borders and initiating airstrikes, significantly curtailing the flow of aid that many Gazans depend on.
The Hamas-run health ministry claims that over 17,700 people, including more than 7,000 children, have died due to Israel’s retaliatory measures. The Rafah crossing with Egypt remains the only entry point for limited aid, although Israel recently agreed to open the Kerem Shalom crossing for inspections before aid is sent to Rafah.
Skau, who visited Gaza this week, described scenes of “fear, chaos, and despair,” with desperate crowds at distribution points and empty supermarket shelves. He highlighted that in some areas, nine out of ten families are spending entire days without food.
In Khan Younis, a city now encircled by Israeli tanks, residents express their desperation. Dr. Ahmed Moghrabi, the head of the plastic surgery unit at Nasser Hospital, shared his anguish over the lack of food and resources, stating, “I feel helpless” as he struggles to provide for his young daughter.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by intensified airstrikes in Khan Younis, where the hospital director reported losing track of the casualties arriving for treatment. Israel continues its operations, claiming Hamas leaders are hiding in the area and that they are engaging in house-to-house combat.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has accused the U.S. of complicity in war crimes, following its veto of a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This resolution received overwhelming support from 13 out of 15 Security Council members, with the UK abstaining and the U.S. standing alone in opposition.
The situation remains critical, with a temporary ceasefire having ended recently. Under this truce, 78 hostages were released by Hamas in exchange for 180 Palestinian prisoners. However, more than 100 hostages still remain in captivity, and recent reports confirmed the death of an Israeli hostage, Sahar Baruch, amidst the ongoing conflict.