Palestine: Huge influx of aid urgently needed amid catastrophic conditions in Gaza
https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/palestine-huge-influx-of-aid-urgently-needed-amid-catastrophic-conditions-in-gaza/
MSF calls for a massive scale-up of lifesaving assistance and unhindered humanitarian access amid the ongoing catastrophe in Gaza, where lives continue to be lost due to sustained violence and persistent aid restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities. Despite these policies, MSF remains committed to provide assistance in Palestine for as long as possible, working under our registration with the Palestinian Authority.
Under international humanitarian law, as the occupying power, Israeli authorities are obliged to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance. Yet restrictive new rules, which require 37 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to leave Gaza and the West Bank by March 1, 2026, threaten to drastically reduce already insufficient aid. Governments around the world must ensure the International Court of Justice decisions are respected, including facilitating the provision of humanitarian assistance.
“MSF is working to preserve services for patients in an increasingly constrained environment,” says Christopher Lockyear, MSF secretary general. “The needs are immense and drastic restrictions have deadly consequences. Hundreds of thousands of patients need medical and mental health care and tens of thousands require long-term medical, surgical and psychological follow-up.”
Despite the U.S.-led peace plan, Israeli authorities continue to heavily restrict and even deny water, shelter and medical care. Living conditions are maintained at undignified levels and violence continues to kill and injure Palestinians on a daily basis. In recent weeks, humanitarian aid reaching Gaza has significantly decreased. In the West Bank, medical and humanitarian needs continue to escalate amid alarming increases in violence, forced displacements, armed settler attacks, home demolitions, settlement expansion and obstruction to healthcare.
Israeli army kills Palestinian child, wounds another in Gaza despite ceasefire
People attend the funeral prayer of 3 Palestinians killed in an Israeli attack, despite the ceasefire in Khan Yunis, Gaza on February 27
Israeli artillery fire killed a 15-year-old Palestinian boy and wounded another teenager east of Gaza City on Saturday, marking a fresh breach of the ceasefire in the enclave, Anadolu reports.
Medical sources told Anadolu that Abed Raed Radi was killed near Israeli-controlled areas east of the Zeitoun neighborhood. Salman Yahya al-Malalha, 16, was wounded in the same shelling and remains in moderate condition.
Earlier in the day, two Palestinians were wounded when Israeli naval forces opened fire on fishing boats off Gaza City and in the Sheikh Ajlin area.
A Palestinian woman was also shot in the foot in the Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, the sources added.
Israel has killed 618 Palestinians and wounded 1,663 since a ceasefire agreement took effect last October.
More than 50% of aid movements to Gaza impeded, denied by Israel: UN
The UN said Friday that more than half of humanitarian aid movements to the Gaza Strip were blocked or denied by Israeli authorities in February, worsening shortages for civilians, Anadolu reports.
“Food rations have been cut by half in February, largely because there are not enough supplies in Gaza. Around two-thirds of the aid trucks coming through the Egypt corridor were sent back this month,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric at a news conference.
Dujarric reported that “inside Gaza, coordinated humanitarian movements with the Israeli authorities also continue.”
“Out of ten missions planned yesterday, four were facilitated – including the collection of fuel, tents and baby kits from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing,” he said, noting that “Five missions were impeded, and a request to assess a water, sanitation and hygiene facility in North Gaza was denied outright.”
