Image Credits - CGTN
The already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has taken a catastrophic turn as Israeli settlers have actively obstructed the entry of vital aid and relief supplies into the besieged Palestinian territory. While the Rafah crossing remains the main entry point for aid into Gaza, demonstrations by Israeli settlers have exacerbated the stranglehold on life-saving resources by blocking a crucial road leading to the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing.
The Karem Abu Salem crossing, which had briefly reopened on Wednesday after a Hamas rocket attack, was soon forced to shut down again due to the ongoing Israeli military offensive. The United Nations has stated that no Palestinian workers can safely reach the other side of the crossing to process the incoming goods, further compounding the crisis.
Jordan, a critical ally in providing humanitarian aid to Gaza, has also faced obstacles in its efforts to deliver aid. Over the past few weeks, Jordanian aid trucks bound for Gaza have come under attack by Israeli protesters, prompting the Jordanian Foreign Ministry to condemn these acts and hold Israel fully responsible for ensuring the swift and safe passage of aid to the people of Gaza, citing Israel’s legal obligations as the occupying power.
As the situation escalates, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a defiant tone, asserting that Israel will fight alone “with our fingernails” if necessary. This statement appears to be a direct response to the United States warning that it would halt weapon supplies to Israel if it launched a full-scale invasion into Rafah.
The intensifying attacks in Rafah have forced thousands of Palestinians to flee the area, seeking refuge in central Gaza, particularly in Deir el-Balah, where resources like food, water, and medical supplies are scarce. The crisis has been exacerbated by the Israeli air strikes that have continued to pound neighbourhoods in the centre and north of Gaza, including an attack on a home near Khan Younis that claimed the lives of at least eight people from the same family.
With border crossings effectively blocked or closed, no supplies have entered Gaza since Sunday, leaving aid agencies down to their “last reserves,” according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This situation has raised grave concerns about the potential for a full-blown humanitarian catastrophe in the densely populated and impoverished coastal enclave.
Amidst the escalating violence and humanitarian crisis, both Israeli and Hamas delegations have left Cairo without securing a deal after the latest round of ceasefire talks. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has urged both parties to show “flexibility” if they are to reach an agreement, underscoring the urgent need for a negotiated settlement to end the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.