AhlulBayt News Agency: An umbrella group of Palestinian non-government organizations has expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where vital humanitarian assistance is blocked from entering, warning that the situation endangers the lives of numerous patients and injured individuals.
Director of the Palestinian NGOs Network in the Gaza Strip, Amjad al-Shawa, said in a statement on Saturday that at least 18,500 patients and injured people require urgent referral for treatment outside the coastal sliver.
This comes at a time when the health care system in the strip is nearing total breakdown due to ongoing Israeli airstrikes and a lack of medications and medical equipment.
Shawa urged US diplomatic envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to apply immediate pressure on Israel to facilitate the opening of crossings and to permit unrestricted access for aid.
He pointed out that approximately 90% of the people living in the strip rely solely on humanitarian assistance to meet their fundamental needs.
Many children are suffering from illnesses associated with cold exposure and malnutrition due to severe living conditions and a lack of heating and shelter, he said.
He also confirmed that there have been recorded deaths among these children in recent weeks.
Shawa noted that Israeli occupation forces have breached the so-called yellow line and increased their presence within the Gaza Strip, clearly violating the established agreements.
He clarified that the proportion of territories under occupation has increased from nearly 53% prior to the implementation of the ceasefire to over 60% at present, due to continuous military expansion.
Shawa’s warnings are consistent with findings released by the World Health Organization, which verified that Gaza’s healthcare system is functioning at under 30% of its potential.
Consequently, numerous patients — particularly those battling cancer, experiencing kidney failure, and suffering from serious injuries — are at a heightened risk of dying because they are not allowed to leave for medical care.
Doctors Without Borders has raised concerns that the limitations placed by Israel on the importation of food, medical supplies, and materials for shelter have led to a significant increase in malnutrition rates, especially in children and expectant mothers.
It stated that the situation in Gaza goes beyond being just a humanitarian crisis; rather, it represents a fundamental moral and humanitarian breakdown.
Since the ceasefire in Gaza was implemented on October 10, Israeli troops have reportedly killed 481 Palestinians and injured another 1,313, demonstrating clear disregard for the terms of the agreement.
The entry of food, shelter materials, and medical supplies into Gaza has been limited by Israeli forces, affecting 2.4 million Palestinians who are enduring severe hardships.
A genocidal war that commenced in October 2023 and continued for nearly two years concluded with a ceasefire, resulting in the deaths of at least 71,654 Palestinians and inflicting injuries on an additional 171,391 people.
Widespread devastation resulted from the war, leading to damage or destruction of around 90% of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimates that the cost of reconstruction is approximately $70 billion.
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