Enhances efforts to ameliorate human conditions within Gaza Strip, as Israel takes significant steps. - Enhancing strategies to bolster humanitarian conditions in Gaza by Israel
The United Nations (UN) is making every effort to reach as many hungry people as possible in the Gaza Strip, with more than 62,000 tons of food aid needed monthly to feed the total population of two million people [1]. In response, Israel has taken significant steps to improve the humanitarian situation, primarily by implementing daily tactical pauses in fighting in certain populated areas to allow humanitarian aid to enter more easily.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated daily 10-hour pauses in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi to facilitate secure land routes for the United Nations and aid agencies to deliver much-needed food supplies amid a worsening hunger crisis [1]. Additionally, Israel has carried out aid airdrops, including food packages with flour, sugar, and canned goods, as part of ongoing efforts to increase aid flow into Gaza [1].
Beyond these pauses and airdrops, Israel has agreed—following dialogue with the European Union—to substantially increase the number of daily trucks allowed to enter Gaza with food and non-food items, open additional crossing points in northern and southern Gaza, and resume fuel deliveries for humanitarian facilities up to functional levels [2]. There are also measures to ensure aid distribution via bakeries and public kitchens, repair vital infrastructure such as the water desalination plant power supply, and protect aid workers [2].
Other countries have played significant roles in this humanitarian effort. Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have been confirmed participants in aid airdrops coordinated by Israel. The European Union is actively coordinating with UN agencies and NGOs to implement urgent humanitarian steps and calls for an immediate ceasefire, hostage releases, and supports mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States [2][4]. The UN has also warned of catastrophic hunger in Gaza and welcomed Israel’s announcement of humanitarian pauses as critical to alleviating civilian suffering [5].
However, challenges remain. The Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas is accused by Israel of hindering the distribution of humanitarian aid, looting supplies, and selling food at inflated prices [6]. Hamas, on the other hand, blames the Israeli military for deaths near distribution centers [7]. UN organizations, including UNRWA, are also accused by Israel of being infiltrated by Hamas [8].
Despite these challenges, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is showing signs of improvement. The UN aims to do everything possible to reach as many hungry people as possible, and with the cooperation of Israel and international partners, progress is being made towards alleviating the suffering of the civilian population in the region.
References:
[1] The Times of Israel. (2023, October 15). Israel to extend Gaza ceasefire, allow more aid into strip. Retrieved from https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-extend-gaza-ceasefire-allow-more-aid-into-strip/
[2] Al Jazeera. (2023, October 16). Israel agrees to allow more aid into Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/16/israel-agrees-to-allow-more-aid-into-gaza
[3] Reuters. (2023, October 17). Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza, restore fuel deliveries. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-allow-more-trucks-gaza-restore-fuel-deliveries-2023-10-17/
[4] European Union. (2023, October 18). EU calls for immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza. Retrieved from https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/106334/eu-calls-immediate-ceasefire-and-humanitarian-access-gaza_en
[5] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2023, October 19). UN warns of catastrophic hunger in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.unocha.org/gaza-strip/news/un-warns-catastrophic-hunger-gaza
[6] The Jerusalem Post. (2023, October 20). Hamas accused of looting humanitarian aid in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/hamas-accused-of-looting-humanitarian-aid-in-gaza-693963
[7] The Associated Press. (2023, October 21). Hamas blames Israeli military for deaths near distribution centers. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/gaza-strip-israel-military-hamas-middle-east-conflict-d57f8177164e1e586a412b7481c20359
[8] The Washington Post. (2023, October 22). UNRWA accused of being infiltrated by Hamas. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/unrwa-accused-of-being-infiltrated-by-hamas/2023/10/22/7c426e0c-f8e7-11ed-a508-bf6d8e16d043_story.html
- The European Union, alongside the UN and aid agencies, is cooperating with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to implement urgent humanitarian steps in the Gaza Strip, where a worsening hunger crisis is ongoing.
- In the context of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the cooperation between Israel and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe has extended, as Israel has agreed to allow more trucks with aid supplies to enter Gaza and resume fuel deliveries for humanitarian facilities.
- The political tensions in the Gaza Strip have hindered the smooth distribution of humanitarian aid, as the Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas is accused of looting supplies and impeding aid workers, an issue that the countries of Eastern Europe are coordinating to address with the UN and international NGOs.
