Tag: Gaza

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UN Urges Israel to Comply with ICJ Ruling on Gaza Amidst Allegations and Humanitarian Concerns

In a significant development, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed hope that Israel would “duly comply” with the recent ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The court ordered Israel to take immediate action to prevent acts of genocide in war-torn Gaza, following a landmark case initiated by South Africa.

Guterres, through spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, emphasized the legally binding nature of ICJ decisions and urged all parties to comply with the court’s order. Despite the ICJ’s decision being binding, Israel had previously indicated its unwillingness to abide by the ruling.

The ICJ’s ruling, issued on Friday, called for Israel to “take all measures” to limit the death and destruction caused by its campaign in Gaza, but stopped short of explicitly calling for a ceasefire. This decision comes amidst the UN chief’s repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza due to concerns about the unprecedented number of civilian casualties and the catastrophic humanitarian situation.

Meanwhile, Australia has decided to “temporarily pause” the disbursement of recent funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) following allegations that some of its staff were involved in the October 7 terror attacks on Israel. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that the allegations are deeply concerning, and while Australia welcomes UNRWA’s swift response, it will temporarily halt funding as investigations proceed.

The main UN agency operating in Gaza, UNRWA, revealed on Friday that Israel had accused some of its staff of involvement in the October 7 attacks, leading to the immediate termination of their contracts. The United States has also announced a pause in funding in response to these allegations.

Additionally, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has raised alarms about declining humanitarian access in parts of Gaza. Israeli protesters, organized by families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, blocked aid trucks from entering through the Kerem Shalom border crossing on Thursday and Friday. OCHA warned that the inability to deliver food, water, and medical aid would worsen the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The protests at Kerem Shalom have disrupted aid deliveries, with families demanding the return of all abductees before allowing aid to reach Gaza. OCHA reported that only about 15 percent of planned humanitarian aid missions in northern Gaza between January 1-25 were facilitated, with 29 being denied.

The situation in Rafah, a southern governorate with 1.3 million Palestinians, has been highlighted by the head of the UN Human Rights Office, Ajith Sunghay. He expressed deep concern about deteriorating conditions, with displaced people living on the streets amid sewage and conditions conducive to a complete breakdown in order. Sunghay emphasized the urgent need for unimpeded humanitarian aid delivery to all those in need.

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Second Border Crossing Provides Vital Lifeline for Desperate Enclave

In a critical development, the dire humanitarian situation in the beleaguered enclave is expected to see a significant improvement as a second border crossing has opened to facilitate aid deliveries. The majority of the population in the enclave remains displaced, cramped into a confined area in the south, grappling with appalling sanitary conditions, and grappling with severe shortages of food and water.

A glimmer of hope emerged with the announcement on Friday of the reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing between Israel and Gaza, marking a crucial step forward in addressing the escalating crisis. The aid community welcomed this much-needed development, anticipating a potential scale-up in aid deliveries to the desperate population.

The Kerem Shalom crossing, which reportedly opened its gates on Sunday for the first time since October 7, stands as a vital addition to the existing humanitarian lifeline. Prior to this, the Rafah border crossing in the south had been the sole entry point for aid deliveries since they resumed on October 21.

Reacting to the news, UN emergency relief chief Martin Griffiths, who heads the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), expressed optimism about the swift implementation of the agreement. He stated, “The fast implementation of this agreement will increase the flow of aid, but what the people in Gaza need most is an end to this war.”

The international community is closely monitoring these developments, recognizing the urgency of providing relief to the enclave’s population and emphasizing the importance of a lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict. As aid shipments are expected to increase with the additional border crossing now operational, attention remains focused on achieving a comprehensive and enduring solution to bring an end to the suffering in Gaza.

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Gaza Braces for Deadly Disease Outbreak as Aid Teams Race Against Time

November 29, 2023

As a tenuous ceasefire holds for the fifth consecutive day in Gaza, doctors are grappling with the looming threat of a potentially catastrophic disease outbreak, prompting urgent calls for increased aid deliveries. UN humanitarian agencies emphasize the immediate need to save lives, particularly those of the injured, and to curb the risk of a deadly epidemic that has left medical professionals in the region “terrified.”

The aftermath of weeks of intense Israeli bombardment, triggered by Hamas’s October 7th massacres in southern Israel, has severely impacted essential services in Gaza. Over 1,200 people lost their lives, with around 240 taken hostage, and more than 15,000 reported casualties, mostly women and children.

One of the critical priorities is the transportation of fuel to the north of the war-torn enclave. This fuel is essential to power hospitals, provide clean water, and maintain vital civilian infrastructure, all of which have been massively disrupted by the recent conflict.

In southern Gaza, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder highlights the immediate threats faced by children, both from the air and on the ground. Doctors at Al-Shifa hospital express their fear of a disease outbreak, with diarrhoea and respiratory infections posing significant risks, especially to children whose weakened immune systems and lack of food make them particularly vulnerable.

As negotiations continue for the release of hostages and a potential extension of the ceasefire, UNICEF expresses dismay at witnessing numerous children fighting for their lives in makeshift conditions. The World Health Organization (WHO) echoes concerns about the dire health needs across the region, emphasizing the impact of starvation, lack of clean water, and overcrowded living conditions.

The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) reports expedited deliveries of relief supplies south of Wadi Gaza, where an estimated 1.7 million internally displaced persons have sought shelter. Hospitals, water, and sanitation facilities are receiving daily fuel supplies to operate generators.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered crucial food aid to over 120,000 people in Gaza during the initial ceasefire, but warns that supplies are “woefully inadequate” to address the hunger witnessed in UN shelters and communities. WFP’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe Region, Corinne Fleischer, emphasizes the risk of famine and starvation, calling for sustained efforts to bring in food at scale and distribute it safely.

As the pause in fighting hangs in the balance, WFP Palestine Representative and Country Director, Samer Abdeljaber, stresses the urgent need for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, emphasizing that the pause has offered a brief window of relief that must pave the way for longer-term calm.

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Hamas’ Attack on Israel Signals Power Play in Shifting Middle East Dynamics

In a surprising move, Hamas launched an assault on Israel, prompting questions about its goals and timing. While the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared war on Hamas and other Gaza factions, the real intentions behind the attack are still unfolding.

Hamas typically engages in conflicts for political reasons, seeking to maintain support within Gaza and beyond, ensuring its continued relevance. Their military leadership is well aware that occupying Israeli territory is beyond their capabilities. Instead, this operation aims to create terror and capture international attention, demonstrated by the kidnapping and killing of Israeli civilians.

The timing of this assault is closely tied to the wider regional context, including the escalating normalization efforts between Israel and Saudi Arabia, brokered by the United States. The Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has remained ineffective, and Washington has attempted to advance Middle East diplomacy through separate agreements with Gulf nations, leaving a two-state solution in the background.

The stumbling blocks for this normalization process have been a far-right Israeli government, viewed as resistant to compromise, and Hamas, an unpredictable factor in Gaza. Surprisingly, there were recent signs of thawing relations between Saudi Arabia and Hamas, raising questions about the motives behind the attack.

The intricacies of Hamas’s decision-making are complex and may take time to fully understand. Israel, despite its proximity, was blindsided by the attack. Hamas appears to have chosen this moment to assert itself in the broader diplomatic landscape, seizing control over the Palestinian narrative.

This move highlights a longstanding gap between elite attitudes in Arab governance circles and the sentiments of the broader population. Israeli-Palestinian conflicts have previously exposed this divide, compelling Arab states to carefully balance public statements and actions. Hamas’s military commander, Mohammed Deif, framed the assault as a people’s revolution, seeking to rally Palestinians from East Jerusalem to northern Israel.

While the appeal to Al-Aqsa’s significance resonates with many, the scale of Hamas’s assault appears calculated to provoke a substantial Israeli response, inevitably leading to civilian casualties. Deif’s appeal extended to the “Islamic resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon,” targeting countries with militant movements supported by Iran, notably Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This conflict has implications beyond Hamas, eroding the perception of Israeli security within its borders. Such developments will not go unnoticed by Hezbollah in Lebanon and militant groups in Syria, potentially altering the dynamics of the entire region.