The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip is escalating sharply with the onset of winter, leaving millions of displaced Palestinians lacking food, shelter, and basic necessities. International aid organizations are urgently demanding the unhindered delivery of supplies into Gaza.
Return of Israeli Captive’s Body:
Amid the crisis, Arab media reported that Hamas yesterday handed over the body of an Israeli captive to Israeli authorities via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the transfer. Reports suggest that the bodies of six other Israeli captives remain in Gaza.
Stalled Aid Delivery and Alleged Violations:
According to Arab media, Israel has stated it will not honor its commitment to the free flow of humanitarian aid during the first phase of the ceasefire until all bodies are returned. Conversely, Hamas claims that searching for bodies in the heavily destroyed areas is extremely difficult, a task complicated by Israel’s refusal to permit the entry of heavy machinery and bulldozers into Gaza. Al Jazeera reported that the body recently returned was recovered after four days of digging through rubble in the Israeli-controlled Shujaiya area of eastern Gaza, with the assistance of Egyptian experts.
Aid Flow Remains Critically Low:
Despite the ceasefire, obstructions to aid delivery persist. The United Nations has warned that while aid shipments have increased slightly post-ceasefire, they remain far below the critical need. Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), stated:
“We are racing against time. Winter is approaching, people are suffering from hunger, and the needs are immense.”
Gaza authorities report that an average of only 145 aid trucks are entering Gaza daily since the ceasefire, a figure that is dramatically short of the 600 trucks per day stipulated under the agreement.
Continued Hostilities:
Tensions remain high in Gaza, with continuous reports of violations. The Israeli military allegedly killed two Palestinians in central Gaza, claiming they approached the ceasefire perimeter. Gaza health officials also reported that a Palestinian collecting firewood was killed by Israeli gunfire. Gaza authorities allege that Israel has violated the ceasefire 194 times since it was implemented.
