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SvennoJ on 11 April 2024
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‘Imminent risk of famine for most, if not all’, in Gaza: US Gaza humanitarian envoy

David Satterfield, appointed as Gaza humanitarian envoy by the US government, has told a forum organised by the American Jewish Committee that most, “if not all”, of Gaza’s 2.2 million people are facing famine.

“There is an imminent risk of famine for the majority, if not all, the 2.2 million population of Gaza,” Satterfield was quoted as saying by Israeli media, including Haaretz and The Times of Israel.

“This is not a point in debate. It is an established fact, which the United States, its experts, the international community, [and] its experts assess and believe is real.” The US envoy also stressed that since Israel is seen as the effective controlling power in Gaza, the country had an obligation to help the civilians there.

“The horrific dehumanization of Israelis that took place on October 7 and the ongoing dehumanization of the Israeli hostages every day they’re held cannot be matched by the dehumanization of innocent Palestinian civilians,” Satterfield was quoted as saying in the online event.

‘Signs of starvation’ creep into southern Gaza

Despite the increase in the number of aid trucks over the past three days, there hasn’t been much of a significant change on the ground. People are still struggling with famine in northern Gaza where the Israeli military has failed to allow more smooth aid deliveries.

In the southern part of the Strip, there are actually signs of starvation that are starting to be quite visible. Overall, the number of trucks being let in is not enough to respond to the great need people are facing right now.




Famine is already occurring in northern Gaza: US official

Samantha Power, the director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), says that people in parts of northern Gaza have begun facing famine.

Her comments, made at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, mark the first public admission by a US official that famine has started in parts of the Gaza Strip.

“Food has not flowed in sufficient quantities to avoid this imminent famine in the south, and these conditions that are giving rise already to child deaths in the north,” she said during an exchange with Congressman Joaquin Castro.

‘Simply stalling’: Aid agencies say Israel can get much more aid into Gaza

When the Israelis pack a truck, they pack it half full so it makes it easier for them to inspect. That truck then goes across the border where it’s repacked by either the UN or the Egyptians and then it goes into Gaza.

That gives the Israelis a chance to blame the UN, to blame aid agencies for delaying aid.

But we should remember there were about 500 trucks a day going through various crossings before October 7 – that wasn’t aid, it was trade. So there are very well-established routes to get all of this aid into Gaza.

Aid agencies have been clear in saying the operational capability is there. Israel has the ability to get more aid in if it wants. But it’s simply stalling and they blame Israel squarely on that.


Israeli protesters block Gaza aid passage near al-Awja crossing

Dozens of Israeli demonstrators have blocked the road to trucks carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip near al-Awja (Nitzana) border crossing between Israel and Egypt.

The border crossing has been closed for hours. Israel’s border guard forces arrested a number of demonstrators.



Israelis gather in Jerusalem for Demand Victory–Rafah Now rally

Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports that several hundred people are participating in a right-wing rally in Jerusalem. The media outlet says the event organisers are members of the Tikva Forum of Families of Hostages, Bereaved Families and the If You Will movement.

The protesters are reported to be calling for a ground offensive in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, which they say will result in a “complete victory” and a return of the captives held in the enclave.

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu said this week that he had set a date for the operation in Gaza’s southernmost city, where nearly 1.5 million Palestinians are sheltering, amid conflicting leaks from the Israeli government that no date had actually been set.

US officials said recently that a meeting with Israeli officials on the subject of the Rafah offensive is scheduled for several weeks from now.