Bakeries, community kitchens shutting down amid shortage
It has now been 10 days with no food, fuel or medical supplies entering Gaza. Israeli authorities also switched off electricity to a desalination plant in Gaza that many relied on for drinking water.
Bakeries that rely on cooking gas are shutting down. Community kitchens that distribute iftar meals are also struggling to keep up their services. Hospitals are at risk of collapsing because they are running out of fuel.
Meanwhile, we see Palestinians walk through the streets collecting wood so they can cook. In the markets, many food products are not available and those that are, are very, very expensive.
Hamas condemn use of aid ‘as political blackmail card’, says Palestinians’ will ‘won’t break’
In a new statement, Hamas has said that Israel continues to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid and basic materials into the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian group called the closure of the crossings into Gaza a violation of the ceasefire agreement and of international law that threatened the lives of innocent civilians.
“We call on the mediators to pressure the occupation to abide by its commitments and open the crossings immediately, to ensure the flow of humanitarian aid and end the policy of collective punishment pursued by the occupation authorities against our people,” Hamas said.
“While we condemn the use of aid as a political blackmail card, we affirm that these aggressive policies will not break the will of our people, and will not succeed in achieving the occupation’s goals. Our people will continue their steadfastness and struggle until they wrest their legitimate rights.”
Water shortages in Gaza reach critical levels: UNICEF
Only one in 10 people in Gaza are currently able to access safe drinking water, UNICEF warns. The situation has worsened since the Israeli decision on Sunday to cut power to the territory, disrupting vital desalination operations.
Rosalia Bollen, a UNICEF official in Gaza, said 600,000 people who had regained access to drinking water in November are once again cut off. “It’s really vital for thousands of families and children to restore this connection,” she said.
UN agencies estimated that 1.8 million people – more than half of them children – urgently need water, sanitation and hygiene assistance.
Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini described the situation as “similar to the one which prevailed” at the start of Israel’s war in October 2023.
Hundreds of thousands of Gaza families now below the poverty line: Red Cross
A spokesperson for the humanitarian organisation gave this news in an interview with our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.
Here are some other key points the spokesperson made:
- The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has not changed as desired after the ceasefire went into effect.
- Israel must allow as much aid as possible to enter without hindrance.
- The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip must continue.
- The Red Cross needs to get food and cooking gas into the Strip. People shouldn’t lose their lives because of a lack of food.
- The Red Cross wants to see a stable humanitarian response.
EU officials visit Rafah crossing despite aid freeze
Europe’s Palestine office says that EU representative Alexandre Stutzmann, along with officials from France, Italy and Spain, visited the Gaza Strip’s southern border crossing with Egypt today.
“The EU remains committed to the role of [the EU Rafah assistance mission] in supporting Palestinians to keep the crossing open. Continued cooperation is essential to sustaining the mission’s critical role,” a post on X from the office reads.
No mention was made of Israel’s ongoing blockage of aid to the Strip, which is now in its 10th day.
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