UN Agency Alerts: Severe Cutbacks in Gaza Relief Activities Imminent Amid Escalating Conflict

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The United Nations body responsible for providing aid to Palestinian refugees issued a grave warning on Wednesday: Should there be no immediate fuel deliveries, the organization will be forced to drastically curtail its humanitarian activities across the Gaza Strip. The area has been under blockade and subject to intense Israeli aerial bombardment since Hamas militants initiated an attack on Israel just over a fortnight ago.

The alert coincides with increasingly dire conditions in Gaza’s medical facilities, which are operating with limited resources as they struggle to attend to a rising number of casualties. According to health officials in the Hamas-governed territory, death tolls are escalating due to continued overnight Israeli airstrikes into Wednesday.

Israel Defense Forces contend that their actions have been focused on eliminating militants and destroying various types of military infrastructure, such as tunnels, command centers, and arsenals, which they allege Hamas has concealed within civilian areas. Rocket attacks from Gaza-based militants into Israel have been unceasing since the conflict commenced.

The Health Ministry in Gaza, under Hamas administration, reported that between Monday and Tuesday alone, the airstrikes led to the deaths of at least 704 individuals, primarily women and children. This information could not be independently confirmed by Big Big News.

Elevated Casualties in the Israel-Hamas Conflict

The current level of fatalities is without precedent in the enduring Israel-Palestinian struggle. Additional loss of life is anticipated if Israel undertakes a planned ground offensive with the objective of incapacitating Hamas militants.

In the United States, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby informed journalists that the U.S. could not corroborate the one-day death toll reported by the Gaza Health Ministry, which is operated by Hamas.

Aid and Internal Displacement

As of now, the UN estimates that approximately 1.4 million out of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been internally displaced, nearly 600,000 of whom have sought refuge in UN shelters. The populace faces dwindling supplies of essential items like food, water, and medical supplies since Israel sealed off the territory following the Hamas-initiated attack.

Despite permitting a limited amount of aid to cross the border from Egypt recently, Israel has obstructed fuel deliveries, citing concerns that it could be utilized by Hamas.

Decaying Healthcare Infrastructure

Healthcare facilities are teetering on the brink of collapse, as confirmed by the World Health Organization. Approximately half of Gaza’s primary healthcare centers, and nearly a third of its hospitals, have ceased operations. Medical staff are overwhelmed as they endeavor to manage a continuous influx of casualties.

Regional Ramifications

The ongoing conflict is also showing signs of spilling over into broader regional dynamics. Israeli airstrikes have targeted military sites in southern Syria, resulting in eight Syrian soldier casualties according to the state-run SANA news agency. Meanwhile, Iranian proxies from locations like Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon have also been implicated in operations against Israel.

Diplomatic Reactions

Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Gilad Erdan, has intimated that Israel may cease issuing visas to U.N. personnel, following comments from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who observed that the initial attack by Hamas “did not happen in a vacuum.” The implications of such an action for U.N. aid workers in the region remain uncertain.

UN Secretary-General’s Statement

In a statement to the Security Council, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remarked that while the Palestinian people have been under occupation for 56 years, this does not justify the attacks perpetrated by Hamas, nor does it warrant the collective punishment of the Palestinian population.

This comprehensive report includes contributions from journalists located in Cairo, Jerusalem, Washington, and London. For additional coverage, visit Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UN Gaza Relief Operations Cutback Amid Conflict

More about UN Gaza Relief Operations Cutback Amid Conflict

• UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees
• World Health Organization on Gaza Healthcare
• Israeli Military Statements
• U.S. White House National Security Council Spokesman on Gaza
• Regional Impact of Gaza Conflict
• U.N. Secretary-General Statements on Gaza Conflict