Israel Continues Gaza Siege Amid Fears of Widespread Famine
Blockade Prevents Essential Supplies, Raising Famine Risks for Over Two Million Residents.
Watan-For the fourth consecutive day, Israeli authorities have kept Gaza’s border crossings closed, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, food, and medical supplies. This decision, enforced by the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu, follows the end of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement last Saturday. Israel has refused to engage in negotiations for the second phase of the deal, imposing new conditions rejected by Palestinian resistance factions.
Residents of Gaza continue to face severe shortages of essential goods, including flour, vegetables, and meat. With Israel’s blockade restricting imports and the near-total destruction of Gaza’s agricultural sector, food supplies are critically low. Bakeries are on the verge of shutting down due to dwindling flour reserves and a lack of fuel, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Risk of Famine and Economic Collapse
The blockade has led to soaring prices, with the cost of essential goods rising by more than 200%. In response, Gaza’s Interior Ministry has taken action against 61 merchants accused of price manipulation, arresting eight and issuing warnings to others. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Social Development warns that over 2.3 million residents rely on humanitarian aid for survival. The closure of crossings threatens to plunge Gaza into famine, particularly endangering vulnerable populations, including 289,824 children and 139,764 elderly citizens.
The blockade has also halted the entry of shelter materials, leaving around 1.5 million displaced people without adequate housing in freezing conditions. The government media office in Gaza warns that the lack of fuel will soon force hospitals and public services to shut down, endangering thousands of patients who depend on medical care.
International Warnings and Calls for Action
UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have issued urgent warnings about the deteriorating situation in Gaza. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continues to provide medical care through shelters but stresses the need for uninterrupted humanitarian aid. UNICEF has also raised alarms, highlighting the dire conditions for pregnant women and newborns in Gaza’s struggling hospitals.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the immediate removal of all barriers preventing life-saving aid from reaching Gaza, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance is “non-negotiable.” Despite these international calls, Israel has maintained its siege and issued further threats against the besieged territory.
As global condemnation grows, Israeli forces continue their attacks on Gaza’s borders, targeting residential areas and intensifying military presence along the eastern borders of Khan Younis and northern Gaza. Israeli surveillance drones have also been spotted intensifying their activity over the region, further heightening tensions.
