Ismail al-Thawabta, Director General of the Palestinian Government Media Office, warned of an unprecedented and widespread humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, stressing that the situation has affected all aspects of life.
He added: “These measures are part of a deliberate policy to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, which has deprived more than 2.4 million Palestinians of food, medicine, water, fuel, and basic services, leading to the rapid collapse of vital sectors in the region.” Al-Thawabta emphasized: “The continued closure of crossings and the prevention of humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza constitutes a form of collective punishment and a flagrant violation of international law. These policies fall under the category of starving civilians.” Meanwhile, Adnan Hamouda, representative of the Gaza Relief Ministry, warned that the region is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe due to the continued obstruction of aid deliveries and the reduction in the number of relief trucks. He said: “The closure of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings has worsened the humanitarian situation, causing a severe shortage of food parcels and relief supplies.” He added that these restrictions also hampered the evacuation of patients and the wounded for treatment outside Gaza, with only 152 patients and wounded individuals able to leave in a single day, while thousands more await treatment. According to data from the Government Media Office, the number of aid trucks entering Gaza does not exceed 25% of the amount agreed upon in the ceasefire agreement of October 10, 2015.
