The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) issued a distressing report on Saturday, highlighting a significant rise in acute malnutrition cases in northern Gaza.
Shockingly, one in three children under the age of 2 in this area now suffers from acute malnutrition, shedding light on the dire humanitarian crisis gripping the besieged enclave.
Meanwhile, amidst mounting concerns about the impending famine in Gaza, Israel announced its intention to dispatch a delegation to Qatar for further discussions on a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to convene the security cabinet to assess Hamas’s latest ceasefire proposal, which includes provisions for the exchange of hostages and prisoners.
As ceasefire efforts continue, apprehensions grow over Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah, Gaza’s last relatively safe city. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed worry, cautioning against potential civilian casualties should an assault on Rafah occur, emphasizing the pressing need for a peaceful resolution.
The conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas launched attacks on Israel, has resulted in devastating consequences. According to Israeli counts, the violence has claimed the lives of 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and led to the capture of 252 hostages.
In response, Israel has conducted a ground and air campaign that has resulted in the deaths of over 31,500 individuals, predominantly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The ongoing assault has left Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins and displaced nearly all of its residents from their homes, exacerbating an already dire hunger crisis.
Despite calls from Western nations for Israel to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, the situation remains challenging due to various obstacles imposed by Israel, including crossing closures and restrictions on movement.
While air and sea relief deliveries have commenced, aid agencies stress that land-based supply routes are indispensable. Notably, the World Central Kitchen initiated a sea route via Cyprus for aid delivery, complementing efforts by the United States and Jordan, which conducted an airdrop on Saturday.
