Watan-The Government Media Office in Gaza has revealed aspects of the tragedy brought about by the horrific Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, especially following the occupation of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.
The office stated that the Israeli occupation army has continued to close all crossings and passages leading to the Gaza Strip for 24 days, with full support and approval from the American administration, which warns of worsening food, water, and medicine crises.
It added that this increases the likelihood of a real famine in Gaza, which is subjected to a genocidal war executed by the occupation and supported by the American administration.
The statement continued: “24 days have passed since the Israeli occupation army occupied the Rafah border crossing and closed the Kerem Shalom crossing, leading to compounded humanitarian crises by preventing 22,000 wounded and sick individuals from traveling to receive treatment outside Gaza.”
🚨 تصريح صحفي صادر عن المكتب الإعلامي الحكومي: نُحذّر من اشتداد أزمات الغذاء والماء والدواء وتفاقم المجاعة والعطش بسبب منع الاحتلال “الإسرائيلي” والإدارة الأمريكية إدخال المساعدات والوقود إلى قطاع غزة ونُحملهم المسؤولية الكاملة عن كارثة إنسانية وشيكة
يواصل جيش الاحتلال…
— إسماعيل الثوابتة #غزة (@ismailalthwabta) May 31, 2024
It pointed out the prevention of humanitarian aid and food supplies from entering Gaza, which is home to about 2.4 million people, including more than 2 million displaced individuals who primarily rely on aid, and where a quarter of a million breadwinners have lost their jobs due to the genocidal war. This has resulted in a lack of cash liquidity, clearly deepening the potential for famine.
According to the government office, the Israeli occupation prevents the entry of fuel, cooking gas, and medicine as part of a policy to pressure civilians, children, and women, which is a crime against humanity. This has caused more than 98% of bakeries in Gaza to cease operations due to the lack of cooking gas.
It also noted the cessation of more than 700 water wells due to targeting and preventing fuel entry, exacerbating the risk of famine and thirst, especially against children and women.
The office emphasized that the moral and humanitarian image of the American administration and the Israeli occupation has been significantly tarnished due to the disasters of starvation, killing, genocide, and systematic destruction of residential areas, infrastructure, and water, sewage, and electricity networks, affecting all sectors and aspects of life in Gaza.
The statement continued: “It is clear that what is happening is a planned and systematic operation by the occupation and the Americans, with premeditated and deliberate intentions, in a manner that shames humanity.”
The office condemned in the strongest terms the continuation of the genocidal war and crimes against humanity committed by the occupation and supported by the American administration. It also condemned the ongoing massacres against displaced civilians and shelters, the latest of which was the targeting of shelters in the Jabalia camp and Rafah governorate. It called on all free countries of the world to condemn these crimes against humanity and the genocidal war against the defenseless Palestinian people.
The office warned the international community and all countries of the world about the catastrophic worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It held the occupation, the American administration, and countries involved in the genocide fully responsible for the catastrophic consequences of this ongoing war against Palestinians, which has claimed over 130,000 victims, including martyrs, wounded, missing, and forcibly disappeared detainees.
It called on the International Criminal Court and all other international courts and free judges worldwide to prosecute the Israeli and American war criminals who killed more than 36,000 people in a historic massacre unprecedented in the world, and to bring them to a fair trial as war criminals and impose the harshest penalties for these horrific crimes.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority claimed that Cairo and Tel Aviv had agreed in principle to reopen the Rafah crossing to allow aid into Gaza, but a senior Egyptian source denied the validity of that information.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority claimed that the decision by Egypt and Israel “came under significant American pressure, with the only remaining obstacle being the entity that will manage the crossing.”
According to the Hebrew Broadcasting Authority, Israel informed the Egyptians that it “agrees to withdraw its army forces from the Rafah crossing and allow its reopening based on practical considerations, but the only remaining obstacle is the issue of who will be responsible for operating it.”
The Hebrew authority added: “Israel has attempted in recent days to involve international parties, American or European, in managing the crossing, but after no party agreed to accept the responsibility, Israeli security officials are considering allowing Palestinian entities to manage it as long as they are not affiliated with armed Palestinian factions in Gaza.”
A tripartite meeting is expected next week between Israeli, Egyptian, and American officials on the matter, according to the same source.
Israeli occupation forces withdraw from northern Gaza
As the Israeli war on Gaza continues, the latest field developments indicate that the occupation forces withdrew on Friday morning from all areas of northern Gaza after a military operation targeting Jabalia camp in particular.
The occupation forces withdrew from Jabalia camp, Tel al-Za’tar, the Beit Lahia project, Beit Hanoun, and all areas in northern Gaza after an operation that lasted 20 days.
Civil defense forces began retrieving the bodies of martyrs from several areas from which the occupation forces withdrew in northern Gaza, including Jabalia camp.