RAFAH, Gaza Strip. As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, hospitals and shelters in the besieged Palestinian territory are struggling to cope with the influx of people seeking refuge. More than a million Gazans have been displaced from their homes in anticipation of a possible Israeli ground invasion, following the recent actions of Hamas fighters in southern Israel.
The situation in Gaza has reached a critical point, with dwindling supplies of food, water, and medicine. All eyes are now on the Rafah crossing, the only lifeline connecting Gaza to Egypt, where vital humanitarian aid is stranded. The crossing has been closed for nearly a week due to Israeli airstrikes, leaving aid trucks waiting for a cease-fire agreement to allow them access to Gaza and for foreigners to depart.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, confirmed that Israel has not taken a position to open the Rafah crossing from the Gaza side, while the Israeli government has yet to respond to the situation.
Inside Gaza, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in U.N. facilities are surviving on less than a liter of water per day. Hospitals are on the brink of collapse, with emergency generators running low on fuel, threatening the lives of patients dependent on life-saving equipment like ventilators and incubators. Additionally, supplies of medicine are nearly exhausted.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the ongoing conflict has resulted in 2,750 Palestinian casualties and 9,700 injuries, surpassing the toll from the 2014 Gaza war. Meanwhile, more than 1,400 Israelis have lost their lives, primarily civilians targeted in a recent Hamas assault. The Israeli military has also announced that at least 199 hostages have been taken in Gaza, although it remains unclear whether this figure includes foreigners.
Israeli airstrikes have caused extensive damage to entire neighborhoods, while Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets into Israel. It is widely anticipated that Israel will launch a ground offensive to target Hamas leaders, recover captives, and dismantle the group’s military infrastructure, which is often located in residential areas. Such street-by-street fighting is likely to result in increasing casualties on both sides.
Israel has issued evacuation orders for over 1 million Palestinians, nearly half of Gaza’s population, primarily in Gaza City and surrounding areas. The military justifies this move as a way to clear civilians from the northern part of Gaza, where Hamas maintains extensive networks of tunnels and rocket launchers.
Despite the evacuation orders, Hamas has urged people to remain in their homes, and the Israeli military has accused the group of blocking traffic moving south.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with hospitals running out of generator fuel, and the sole power plant has ceased operations due to a lack of fuel. The World Health Organization has expressed deep concern about disease outbreaks due to mass displacement and the worsening water and sanitation conditions. Hospitals are in desperate need of water for sanitary purposes, operation rooms, and emergency departments. The WHO also stated that thousands of hospital patients are at risk due to water shortages and the lack of fuel for pumps and desalination stations.
The U.N. health agency emphasized that life-saving assistance for 300,000 patients is awaiting entry through the Rafah crossing, while Palestinians with dual citizenship anxiously wait to leave the territory. Many people feel abandoned and humiliated in front of the crossing, given the international community’s inaction.
Amid the ongoing crisis, more than 1 million people, approximately half of Gaza’s population, have been displaced from their homes within a week. Travel within Gaza remains dangerous due to destroyed roads and limited windows of opportunity to move without the threat of airstrikes.
In addition to the Gaza situation, Israel has ordered the evacuation of 28 communities near the Lebanese border due to escalating cross-border fire with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military is preparing for possible operations on multiple fronts, emphasizing its readiness to respond forcefully to any provocations.
The United States has initiated the evacuation of American citizens from the northern Israeli port city of Haifa to Cyprus, as commercial airlines have significantly reduced flights to Israel. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has returned to the region to help mediate a peaceful resolution to the conflict, while President Joe Biden is considering a visit to Israel to address the escalating crisis.
In a recent interview, President Biden expressed his belief that reoccupying Gaza would be a “big mistake” for Israel, reaffirming his support for the country. Israeli authorities assert that their goal is to obliterate Hamas’ capabilities, rather than occupying Gaza.
As the conflict continues, Israeli forces, backed by a growing deployment of U.S. warships and mobilization of reservists, are positioned along Gaza’s border, preparing for a comprehensive campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas. Israel has already targeted numerous military installations, including command centers and rocket launchers, and has eliminated several Hamas commanders.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
