GAZA: Hopes dimmed on Thursday for a ceasefire before the holy month of Ramadan in the Israel-Hamas war that entered its sixth month with dozens more Palestinians killed, further exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The health ministry in Gaza has threatened of worst famine amid relentless Israeli bombardment.
The Gaza Strip health ministry said 83 more Palestinians had been killed over the previous day, adding to a toll it says has reached 30,800, mostly women and children, in a war that China called “a disgrace to civilization”.
Despite international pressure, including calls from US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire plan before the holy month of Ramadan, negotiations have yet to yield significant progress. The Palestinian resistance group Hamas delegates left Cairo after talks failed to produce a breakthrough, with discussions now set to resume during Ramadan.
Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has termed the situation in Gaza as a tragedy of humankind and a disgrace to civilization. “It is a tragedy for humankind and a disgrace for civilization that today, in the 21st century, this humanitarian disaster cannot be stopped,” Wang Yi said.
Israeli Bombardment Causes Vast Destruction in Gaza
By late January the Israeli bombardment had damaged around half of all buildings in Gaza and rendered the territory “uninhabitable” for its 2.4 million people, a UN agency said, warning the impact would only worsen if the war continued.
The ongoing conflict has left swathes of Gaza in ruins, with around half of all buildings damaged and the territory rendered “uninhabitable” for its 2.4 million residents, according to a UN agency. The situation has been compounded by widespread malnutrition and dehydration, with the health ministry reporting 20 deaths, including children, attributed to famine.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that famine looms for Palestinians struggling to survive in the territory.
Israeli restrictions continue to impede humanitarian aid delivery, exacerbating the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel continued attacks in various areas, including Zeitun and Rafah, where civilians have sought refuge near the Egyptian border but remain trapped amidst the fighting.
The proposed ceasefire deal, which would entail a pause in hostilities for at least six weeks and the release of hostages, has yet to meet the minimum requirements demanded by Hamas officials. With no immediate end in sight to the violence and humanitarian crisis, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the escalating situation and avert further tragedy in Gaza.
