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Gaza Disaster Escalates: Over 217 Deaths Due to Famine
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Sunday the registration of five new deaths caused by famine and malnutrition within the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll due to famine in the region to 217, including 100 children. The ministry emphasized that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, amidst ongoing blockade and shortages of food and medical supplies. It reiterated its call on the international community and relief organizations to deploy immediate and urgent interventions to save lives and meet the critical needs of the population.
In a related context, the Israeli coordination body for activities in Gaza and the West Bank (COGAT) reported that over the past week, approximately 1,900 trucks of aid have been collected and distributed through the Karm Abu Salem and Zikim crossings. The Israeli Defense Ministry-affiliated agency, quoted by the "Times of Israel," stated that more than 1,310 trucks, most of which were loaded with food, entered Gaza recently. It also affirmed that Israel will continue facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid to civilians, and not for Hamas.
The United Nations estimates that the daily need for aid in Gaza ranges between 500 and 600 trucks to meet the needs of over two million residents. Additionally, an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council is scheduled for Sunday to discuss Israel’s potential plans to seize and occupy Gaza, a move that has sparked widespread international condemnation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described this plan as a “serious escalation” in the ongoing war in Gaza, which has lasted for more than two years. European countries within the Security Council—Denmark, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia—called for an emergency session in New York, set to begin at 10 a.m. local time (2 p.m. GMT). During the session, member states are expected to exchange views, while UN rapporteurs will assess the possible repercussions of controlling Gaza’s main city, especially amid escalating tensions and looming plans.
