December 1st 2024.
The United Nations agency responsible for providing aid to Palestinian refugees announced on Sunday that they would be halting aid deliveries through the main cargo crossing into the Gaza Strip. This decision was made due to the threat posed by armed gangs who have been looting aid convoys. The agency, known as UNRWA, also placed blame on Israel for contributing to the breakdown of law and order in the area.
The timing of this decision is especially concerning as the cold, rainy winter season is approaching. With hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in squalid tent camps and relying on international aid for food, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza could worsen. The situation is particularly dire in the territory's north, where Israeli forces have essentially cut off all aid since October.
UNRWA's head, Philippe Lazzarini, explained that the route leading to the main cargo crossing, Kerem Shalom, is now too dangerous on the Gaza side. In mid-November, nearly 100 trucks were looted by armed men along this route, and a smaller shipment was also stolen on Saturday. Kerem Shalom is the only crossing between Israel and Gaza that is equipped for cargo shipments, and it has been the primary artery for aid deliveries since the Rafah crossing with Egypt closed in May. In fact, Israeli figures show that almost two-thirds of all aid entering Gaza last month came through Kerem Shalom.
In a post on social media, Lazzarini placed much of the blame for the breakdown of humanitarian operations in Gaza on Israel. He cited political decisions to restrict the amount of aid allowed into the territory, lack of safety on aid routes, and Israeli targeting of the Hamas-run police force, which had previously provided public security. There has been no immediate comment from Israel regarding this decision.
However, Israel maintains that they allow enough aid into Gaza and places the responsibility on UNRWA and other agencies for failing to deliver it. They have also accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas to infiltrate their ranks, an allegation that the UN agency denies. Last month, Israel even passed legislation to sever ties with UNRWA.
In the midst of this aid crisis, Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least six people overnight, including two young children. The strike, which took place in the Muwasi area, also wounded the children's mother and 8-month-old sister. In a separate strike in Rafah, four men were killed. The Israeli military claims they were not aware of these strikes, but it is a common occurrence for their daily strikes to result in the deaths of innocent civilians.
On a separate note, a projectile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen set off air raid sirens in central Israel. The Israeli military was able to intercept the projectile before it entered Israeli territory, and the Houthis claimed they were targeting the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
In a shocking accusation, former Israeli defence minister Moshe Yaalon accused the government of ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have been carrying out offensives against Hamas since October. The army has sealed off several towns and refugee camps, preventing any humanitarian aid from entering and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee. Yaalon claims that the government's intentions are to occupy, annex, and ethnically cleanse these areas.
Yaalon doubled down on his remarks in a later interview, stating that war crimes are being committed in Gaza. However, these statements have been met with criticism from Netanyahu's Likud party, who accuses Yaalon of making false statements that could be used against Israel by the International Criminal Court. Israel has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and claims that both the ICC and the International Court of Justice are biased against them.
Meanwhile, talks of a ceasefire in Gaza have resumed "behind the scenes" involving the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. These efforts have been ongoing for the past year, but Israel has rejected Hamas's demand for a complete withdrawal from the territory. The fact that the Biden administration has promised to make another push for a deal in its final weeks in office provides hope for a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
In the meantime, Israeli president Isaac Herzog met with Yael Alexander, whose son is being held by Hamas as a hostage. He expressed his belief that negotiations could still take place and that it is possible to reach a resolution. The future of the Middle East remains uncertain, but with the help of international aid and diplomatic efforts, there is hope for a peaceful solution. Stay updated on all the latest news by downloading the 9NEWS app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
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