Gaza Under Fire: Humanitarian Crisis Escalates Amidst Israeli Aerial Attacks

The intense aerial attacks by Israeli forces on the Gaza Strip have continued for a fourth straight day after Hamas’ surprize attack.

The Israeli forces has so far killed at least 770 Palestinians in these attacks, including dozens of children, and also wounded some 4,000 others.

On the other hand, more than 900 people in Israel have also been killed by the Hamas, includin at least 2,600 others who wounded and hospitalized.

Israeli Forces’ Indiscriminate Attack on Gaza City

Later in the day, there were scenes of panic at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where medical workers and relatives were seen rushing to bring wounded people, including many children.

Reporter of Al Jazeera, Youmna ElSayed said healthcare workers were “overwhelmed” in the largest hospital of Gaza.

“There is a white tent in the yard of the hospital, a [makeshift] extension to the morgue because they are full of bodies,” she said. “Some of the families have already taken their relatives quickly … in order to empty the morgue. No funerals are being held due to the intensity of the bombing.”

Blockade by Israel

The Israeli blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip, in its current form, has been in place since June 2007. Israel controls Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters, as well as two of the three border crossing points; the third is controlled by Egypt.

On Monday, Israel said it was imposing a “total blockade” on the territory, cutting off supplies of food, water, fuel and electricity. Such a siege, with the intent to starve a population, is a war crime under United Nations statutes.

Staff at Al-Shifa hospital said there was a shortage of medicines, supplies and equipment while the power cuts exacerbated the situation.

“Gaza has had only four hours of electricity in the past two days,” ElSayed reported. “The sole power plant here is saying it can only operate for a maximum of two more days after that,” she said.

In the mean time, the Israeli army said it had regained full control of the areas around the Gaza fence after days of fighting with Hamas gunmen.

Israeli Forces’ Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the army’s engineering units were clearing the areas and holes in the fence with Gaza that was breached in the hours of Saturday by the Hamas fighters.

Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds reported that in the Israeli town of Ashdod, near Gaza, the sound of explosions could be heard “every few minutes.”

“You can see and hear signs of the war from here,” Reynolds said.

The Israeli army has called up 300,000 reservists, raising fears it planned a ground offensive into Gaza.

In a tit for tat move, Hamas has threatened to kill a hostages which they have taken under their custody after the first surprising attack.

According to the World Health Organization, 13 attacks have hit health facilities since the fighting began, and pre-positioned medical supplies have already been used.

The UN Called to End Violence

The UN agency has called for an end to the violence and an urgent need to create a humanitarian corridor into the Gaza Strip.

“WHO is calling for an end to the violence … a humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical medical supplies,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a press briefing in Geneva.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that close to 200,000 people, or nearly a tenth of the population, were displaced and had fled their homes amid the intense fighting.

“Displacement has escalated dramatically across the Gaza Strip, reaching more than 187,500 people since Saturday. Most are taking shelter in schools,” Jens Laerke, OCHA spokesperson said.

(Source: Al-Jazeera)

The @UN must be allowed access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped & helpless in the Gaza Strip.

I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort. pic.twitter.com/Y3VmubuhtV

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 9, 2023