The effect of Israel’s total siege has become “catastrophic,” doctors say. Food, water and medicine shortages are prompting a surge of preventable illnesses, and deaths.The New York Times reports that it has been over 60 days since Israel imposed a complete halt on all humanitarian aid entering Gaza, including food, fuel, and medicine. As a result, Muneer Alboursh, the director general of Gaza’s health ministry, is receiving numerous phone calls from doctors and patients who are desperate for supplies. However, with the ongoing blockade, he is running out of answers.
The longer the siege continues, the more dire the situation becomes for patients in Gaza. Many patients with treatable conditions, such as heart problems or kidney failure, are calling Alboursh directly to ask for advice on alternative treatments. Unfortunately, he is unable to offer any solutions, and in most cases, these patients end up passing away.
Israel has stated that it will not lift the blockade until Hamas releases the hostages it is still holding after a failed cease-fire in March. However, humanitarian groups and European officials have accused Israel of using aid as a political tool and argue that the total blockade is a violation of international law.
The severity of the siege has affected every aspect of life for the approximately two million people trapped in Gaza. This adds to the struggles of a population that has already been living under a partial blockade for nearly two decades, which was imposed by Israel and backed by Egypt after Hamas took control of the enclave in 2007.
Source:Read More