GAZA CITY, Palestine: The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels, with the United Nations describing the situation as “absolutely catastrophic”, amid ongoing Israeli military operations and a worsening water and health emergency.
Olga Cherevko, a staff member of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), speaking from Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, said as cited by Al Jazeera that more than 400,000 people have been displaced in just over three weeks.
“There is a massive shortage of water, and hygiene conditions are absolutely appalling,” she said, noting an alarming spread of skin diseases and infestations due to lack of clean water.
“Absolutely zero supplies have come in over 40 days,” she warned, adding that OCHA is running out of essential medical and trauma supplies.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military has issued fresh evacuation orders for residents of multiple neighbourhoods in Khan Younis, warning of an imminent offensive.
The Israeli army’s Arabic language spokesperson instructed residents of Qizan al-Najjar, Qizan Abu Rashwan, al-Salam, al-Manara, and other southern areas to move westward to al-Mawasi.
The military claims Hamas has launched rockets from the area.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that the army had seized control of the “Morag Corridor”, effectively cutting off Rafah from the rest of Gaza and designating it an “Israeli security zone”.
Israel warns of broader military operations
He also threatened broader military operations across Gaza unless Hamas releases all hostages.
Katz said the Netzarim Corridor, previously vacated during a ceasefire, would now be expanded to reinforce Israeli control.
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of turning water into a “tool of genocide”, alleging deliberate sabotage of critical infrastructure.
It said Israel had disrupted two Mekorot water pipelines and shut down the electricity line powering a key desalination plant in Deir el-Balah.
Over 90 percent of water and sanitation systems have reportedly been destroyed.
More than 1.7 million cases of water-related illness have been recorded, and at least 50 Palestinians – mostly children – have died due to dehydration and malnutrition, according to the media office.
It appealed for immediate international intervention to stop the “crime of deprivation of water”.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, speaking at a press conference on Friday in Antalya, stressed that aid access must not be contingent on a ceasefire.
He called on the international community to pressure Israel to allow unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo
Meanwhile, hopes for a potential ceasefire were rekindled as a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian mediators.
A Hamas official, speaking anonymously to AFP, expressed optimism for “real progress” towards a deal that would end hostilities and ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
He, however, clarified that no formal proposal had yet been received, despite Israeli media reports suggesting that a draft agreement was under discussion.
The Times of Israel reported that Egypt’s plan may involve the release of eight living hostages and eight bodies in exchange for a truce lasting between 40 to 70 days and a release of Palestinian prisoners.
US President Donald Trump, speaking during a cabinet meeting this week, also said negotiations were “getting close” to securing the release of hostages.
Israel resumed its military campaign on 18 March following the collapse of a two-month truce.
Since then, over 1,500 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The overall death toll since the war began on 7 October 2023 has now risen to 50,912.
The UN human rights office has raised serious concerns about the scale of Israeli attacks, reporting that many air strikes have killed “only women and children”, and warned that the forced displacement orders are resulting in the “forcible transfer” of civilians into shrinking areas.
Israeli strikes continued on Saturday, with Gaza’s civil defence agency reporting an air raid on a residential house in Gaza City.
