“In the Gaza Strip, families face new horrors with each passing week. Devastating attacks on schools continue,” UNICEF Executive Director Russell said in a statement.
Russell stressed that the humanitarian situation was beyond catastrophic, pointing out that families were constantly having to move from place to place to escape violence.
Noting that children who had been injured before were being injured again, Russell reminded, “Doctors and nurses with no resources are struggling to save lives. Thousands of boys and girls are sick, hungry, injured or separated from their families.”
UNICEF vehicle targeted
“We are doing everything we can as humanitarian organizations, including UNICEF, but the dire situation and attacks on humanitarian personnel continue to hinder our efforts,” Russell said, emphasizing that the polio virus poses a threat to thousands of unvaccinated children, especially with the collapse of the health system and sewage treatment.
Russell, pointing out that a clearly marked UNICEF vehicle was hit by bullets yesterday while it was in a designated waiting area near a checkpoint in Gaza, said that the conditions for a strong humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip were not present, that the flow of aid should not be blocked, and that access should be regular and safe.
278 aid workers killed in Gaza Strip
Russell stressed that civilians in Gaza have been deprived of supplies for almost nine months and the commercial sector has collapsed, adding, “At least 278 aid workers have already been killed in the Gaza Strip. This is a record number. Other aid workers have been put in danger or prevented from doing their job.”
Noting that there is an urgent need to improve the security environment in the Gaza Strip, Russell said: “Most importantly, we need an immediate and sustainable ceasefire. We call on all parties to this conflict to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law.”
Russell said it was high time “for this crisis to end, for the hostages to be returned to their families, and for the children of Gaza to have a healthy and safe future.”
After the Israeli occupation of Gaza on October 7
Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, under the pretext of “responding to the continuous violations against Palestinians and holy values, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
Israel announced that 1,200 Israelis were killed and 5,132 were injured in the attacks on October 7.
In Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 39,145 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 16,172 children and 10,798 women, and 90,257 people have been injured.
While it is reported that there are still thousands of dead under the rubble, civilian infrastructure is also being destroyed by targeting hospitals and educational institutions where people take shelter.
The Israeli army announced that 683 of its soldiers have died since the start of its attacks on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 326 of whom died during the ground invasion.
During the “humanitarian pause” given for 4 days on November 24, 2023, and later extended for another 3 days, 81 Israeli and 240 Palestinian prisoners were mutually released. On the other hand, Israel continued to detain and imprison thousands of Palestinians.
Since October 7, 2023, 589 Palestinians have lost their lives in attacks by Israeli soldiers and Israelis who have usurped Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Source: www.dunya.com
