Gaza. The crisis gets worse
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza gets worse every day. There are about 53,000 fully identified dead and the Israeli government seems to show off. Benjamin Netanyahu intends to take full control of the Gaza Strip, and the intensifying of the latest offensive has resulted in increased pressure from the international community. Pressure that is no longer exerted only by the traditional rivals of the Jewish state, but also by historical allies like the United States.
Since Israel started retaliatory attacks after the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the geopolitical board of the Middle East has undergone substantial changes. Hamas and Hezbollah ended up practically paralyzed after several months of confrontation with Israel’s defense forces, Iran revealed lower than his rival and Israel cemented as the main regional power.
But there is a dimension that transcends geopolitics and has been one of the main concerns regarding the conflict in the Middle East: the humanitarian crisis. Even if the number of dead and injured is provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas, and there is reasons for doubt as to its credibility, the humanitarian crisis in Palestinian territory is undeniable. Vehicles carrying goods that seek to mitigate the crisis have a difficult task, both by Israeli blocks and the appropriation of resources by Hamas.
AMJAD ALSHAWA, director of the Palestinian NGOs network, told NBC News that « with this limited help, the humanitarian situation continues to get worse and more, » accusing the Israeli government of « imposing restrictions on access to these supplies. » The coordinator of government activities in the Territories (Cogat), an arm of the responsible Israeli Defense Ministry, among other matters, for the logistics facilitation between Israel and the Gaza Strip, also according to NBC News, « said the trucks of World Central Kitchen had » distributed help « from maritime delivery in the north of Gaza. » Still, Stéphane Dujaric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that « Israeli authorities had only allowed » the passage « through an area that was highly congested », which the United Nations team considers « insecure » and feels that « it was highly likely to occur piles, given the extended deprivation in Gaza ». Thus, according to Jean Guy, head of mission of doctors without borders for the Palestinian territories, also cited by the NBC, the situation became « in a logistical nightmare for agencies. »
The allies retreat
The deepening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, coupled with Netanyahu’s statements, which said that « at the end of this campaign, all the territories of the Gaza Strip will be under Israel’s security control, » resulted in a joint statement of three important allies of Israel: the United Kingdom, France and Canada. In the statement, published on Monday, the three governments declared that they oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable. Yesterday’s announcement that Israel will authorize the entry of a basic amount of food in Gaza is totally inappropriate. The Israeli government also appealed to end its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid in Gaza ‘, and stressed that the Israeli government’s decision to refuse’ essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and at risk of violating international humanitarian law ‘. The joint statement is concluded with a commitment regarding the solution of the two states: « We are committed to recognizing a Palestinian state as a contribution to the achievement of a two -state solution and we are willing to work with others for this purpose. »
But the removal of allies is not restricted to these three countries. Israel’s historic ally, the United States, which has been crucial in supporting the Jewish state since its founding in 1948, also seems to be losing patience with the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. According to statements by two White House staff members to Axios, « President Trump has been frustrated by the ongoing war in Gaza and disturbed by the suffering images of the Palestinian children, having told his advisers to tell the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who wants him to end the war. » « (White House staff members) admit that there are growing political differences between a president who wants to end the war and a prime minister who is expanding her substantially, » wrote journalist Barak Ravid in the same play.
Thus, the humanitarian nightmare in Gaza continues and an end that is desirable for this conflict does not seem to be on the horizon. Donald Trump, who had as one of the main flags of the campaign the quick end of conflicts and instability in both Ukraine and Gaza, seems to have the work hindered by the intransigence of both Vladimir Putin and Netanyahu.
