UN warns no supplies for northern Gaza after Israel closes crossing
The UN voices grave concerns about food and other supplies running out in northern Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are already experiencing famine. Israel began its long-expected ground assault on Gaza City in the north on Tuesday and is stepping up efforts to empty the city of civilians by opening an additional route southwards.
Hundreds of thousands of people are sheltering in the city and refuse to follow Israel’s orders to move because of the dangers from Israeli attacks along the way, dire conditions, a lack of food in the southern area and fear of permanent displacement. Exhausted and hungry, many thousands have already been displaced multiple times throughout Israel’s assault.
“There are grave concerns over fuel and food stock depletion in a matter of days as there are now no direct aid entry points into northern Gaza and resupply from south to north is increasingly challenging due to mounting road congestion and insecurity,” the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) said in a statement.
The Zikim Crossing was shut on September 12 and no aid groups have been able to import supplies since, it said.
A global hunger monitor said last month that Gaza City and surrounding areas were officially suffering from famine and that it was likely to spread.
Israel controls all access to Gaza.
Thirteen killed in Israeli attack near al-Shifa Hospital
Thirteen people have been killed, and others wounded, in an Israeli attack carried out in front of the gate of al-Shifa Hospital in the west of Gaza City, a source at the hospital tells Al Jazeera.
Israel uses booby-trapped vehicles to displace people and destroy homes in Gaza City: NGO
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor says the Israeli army has intensified its use of booby-trapped armoured vehicles loaded with explosives to demolish residential neighbourhoods in Gaza City.
The NGO reported the detonation of 10 booby-trapped vehicles today in the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood of Gaza City.
At least three other vehicles were detonated among homes in al-Nafaq Street, in the east of the city, along with several more in the vicinity of Sheikh Radwan Pool in northern Gaza City, according to the report.
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor added: “Beyond mass killing and forced displacement, these methods aim to obliterate entire neighbourhoods and infrastructure, erasing the possibility of life returning to the city and undermining the Palestinian people’s right to remain on their land and return to their homes.”
The group also said “the unprecedented scale of destruction” highlights Israel’s determination to carry out its plan of erasing Gaza City.
“This has been enabled by the absence of any meaningful international pressure or accountability, reinforcing impunity and undermining international law’s capacity to protect civilians from crimes of genocide,” the report stressed.
Terrorism at industrial scale, paid for by the USA.
