The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with aid agencies warning that without an immediate cessation of hostilities, the territory is spiraling into an irreversible humanitarian collapse. At least 56 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza since dawn on Monday, including 27 aid seekers. A medical source revealed that a nurse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah was killed when hit by an air-dropped box.
The aid crisis in Gaza is dire, with authorities reporting an average of only 84 trucks entering the besieged enclave daily since Israel eased restrictions on July 27. However, aid organizations stress that at least 600 trucks are needed daily to meet the territory’s basic needs. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) echoes this concern, stating that Gaza’s entire population is reliant on humanitarian relief and blocking aid will have far-reaching consequences for the desperate civilian population. “Gaza’s entire population is currently reliant on humanitarian relief, and blocking aid at a time when most of the population are already facing crisis levels of hunger will have far-reaching consequences for an already desperate civilian population,” says Bob Kitchen, Vice President of Emergencies and Humanitarian Action at the IRC.
The IRC also highlights the catastrophic conditions on the ground, with 1.9 million Palestinians displaced and the entire population facing crisis-level or worse food insecurity. “We’ve witnessed catastrophic conditions firsthand and continue to deliver vital aid in Gaza—including clean water, cash, early childhood education, protection—despite harrowing safety concerns,” the IRC reports. The situation is further exacerbated by the near-total blockade on access into Gaza, which has led to a severe shortage of medical supplies, food, and fuel.
Hamas has expressed willingness to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver aid to Israeli captives in Gaza, provided Israel opens “humanitarian corridors” to deliver aid to all people in Gaza. This development comes amid reports of widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease in Gaza, with the UN-backed food security experts warning that the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has resulted in significant human suffering, with over 60,933 people killed and 150,027 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive. The IRC and other aid agencies are calling for an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the restoration of essential services to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe. “This is a test of our shared humanity, a test we cannot afford to fail,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasizes.