By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
SvennoJ on 05 April 2026
Edit Thread

Has the humanitarian crisis in Gaza been ignored? | Inside Story


It's called the forgotten crisis. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire, despite the ceasefire that came into effect in October.

For months, the Israeli military violated the agreement -- carrying out air strikes and limiting the entry of aid. But it got worse when Israel and the US launched their joint offensive on Iran on February 28. The Rafah border crossing was closed again. And deliveries of food, fuel and aid were further restricted.

With the Iran war disrupting global supply chains and the UN warning of threats to food security, what are the implications for Palestinians in Gaza?



Hamas armed wing says disarmament demands not acceptable

Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida has said that calling for the group’s disarmament amounted to an attempt to continue Israel’s genocide.

Hamas’s armed wing has rejected calls for the Palestinian group to disarm, saying that discussing the issue before Israel fully implements the first phase of the United States-brokered “ceasefire” in Israel’s war on Gaza amounts to an attempt to continue the genocide against the Palestinian people.

In a televised statement on Sunday, Obeida, who is Hamas’s armed wing spokesperson, said that raising the issue of weapons “in a crude manner” would not be accepted.

The issue of Hamas relinquishing its weapons is a major obstacle in talks to implement US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, aimed at ending Israel’s war on the besieged territory. 

Hamas has told mediators it will not discuss disarmament without guarantees that Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza, three sources told the Reuters news agency last week.

“What the enemy is trying to push through today against the Palestinian resistance, via our brotherly mediators, is extremely dangerous,” Obeida said.

He said the disarmament demands were “nothing but an overt attempt to continue the genocide against our people, something we will not accept under any circumstances”.