Gaza has been declared a humanitarian crisis. According to the Palestinian health ministry, the Israeli offensive has already incurred 595 lives, 195 of which are children. The war has been ongoing over the past 11 days. A most recent assault on a school building said to be housing Hamas militants left at least 30 people dead and 55 injured, according to the UN. 18 months of blockade and siege have left Palestinians weak, hungry, and cold because of electricity outage.
The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, demands for an immediate ceasefire, blaming both Israel and Hamas. The possibility of a ceasefire is at a standstill, with both warring camps insistent on their ceasefire requirements. However, Israel continues to control the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, establishing just a small functional corridor for food and medical supplies. Israel can close this anytime and stop the inflow of aid, though. With this kind of situation, it would be unlikely that any ceasefire proposal can earn the support and approval of Hamas. Islamists are hardly known to compromise.
A complete and accurate humanitarian scenario cannot be estimated at this point, much less reported to the rest of the world, as Israel has blocked the entry of international journalists into Gaza. Israel, though, has pledged to prevent a humanitarian crisis by proposing to suspend offensives in some areas of Gaza so that people can avail of essential goods and basic necessities such as food and medicines. According to the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, these areas will be free for “limited periods of time, during which the population will be able to receive the aid.”
Via BBC
