Hamas issued a strong response to the United Nations’ declaration of famine in parts of Gaza, calling for immediate opening of all border crossings and decrying Israel’s blockade as being at the source of its humanitarian disaster.
Hamas issued an online statement Friday demanding immediate action by the UN and Security Council to end war and lift siege, with crossings opened without restrictions for urgent and continuous delivery of food, medicine, water and fuel to Gazans in need. They decried Israel’s use of starvation as an aggressive military tactic.
Free Malaysia Today (The New Arab) +3 (BSS).
“Hamas stresses the significance of this declaration from the UN despite its lateness; after months of warnings and suffering endured by our people under systematic siege and starvation.” BSS
Famine has already taken hold in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with malnutrition-related deaths rising sharply as fuel and aid delays force hospitals to reduce services while water shortages drive disease into healthcare services, according to reports by The Guardian, The New Arab and Dawn.
+6 These developments come amid mounting international alarm over Gaza’s rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions, prompting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to express urgency over Israel as an occupying power; warning that hunger must serve as an urgent and decisive call to meet basic civilian needs immediately and concretely.
Regional response has been swift. Foreign ministers from countries including the UK, Australia, France, Spain, Japan and EU representatives issued a joint plea earlier this month calling for an unprecedented surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza while warning of looming “unimaginable suffering”. They demanded Israel allow expanded aid access. For more details see The Guardian or The New Arab.
Hamas had offered in prior statements to allow Red Cross access to hostages only if Israel agreed to end airstrikes and open humanitarian corridors permanently, reported Reuters.
Now more than ever, the call to open crossings has taken on an urgent tone. Aid agencies warn that temporary or partial access is insufficient to alleviate Gazans from malnutrition, health system collapse, lack of water and sanitation services as well as environmental pollution – requiring sustained unfettered supply routes to avert further disaster. Its The Guardian
As hunger worsens and political divisions intensify, one key question remains: Will international pressure result in tangible access or will politics thwart life-saving aid? Hamas’ demand places an onus upon Israel and global actors to act quickly before Gaza’s humanitarian collapse becomes irreparable.