Keeping Up with Gaza News: Understanding the Current State

The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has captured international attention, with the latest Gaza news dominating headlines worldwide. As tensions escalate between Israel and Hamas, the impact on Palestinians living in the region has been devastating. The Israel-Hamas war has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations and other international organizations struggling to provide aid to those affected by the violence.

In this article, we will delve into the current state of the Gaza Strip, exploring the background of the crisis and its far-reaching consequences. We will examine the impact on civilians, particularly children and families, as well as the economic strain and infrastructure collapse caused by the conflict. Additionally, we will discuss the international response, the challenges faced by humanitarian aid organizations, and the efforts towards achieving peace in the region.

Background of the Crisis

The Gaza Strip, a narrow territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, has been the center of a long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian people. With a population of over two million, the Gaza Strip has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, and later under a partial blockade by Israel and Egypt. The blockade, imposed in 2007 after Hamas seized power, has led to high unemployment and a heavy reliance on international aid.

The conflict between Israel and Gaza is primarily due to the actions of Hamas, an Islamist group committed to the destruction of Israel. Hamas has been in control of the Gaza Strip since 2007, following a period of Israeli military rule from 1967 to 2005. The United States, the European Union, and other Western countries have condemned Hamas' attacks on Israel, while Russia and China have refused to do so. Iran, Israel's arch-enemy, is a key supporter of Hamas.

The conflict has resulted in several wars, including:

1. Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009)
2. Operation Pillar of Defense (2012)
3. Operation Protective Edge (2014)

During these conflicts, the United Nations has criticized both Israel and Hamas for human rights violations. The current escalation, which began on October 7, 2023, has led to the deaths of at least 32,600 Palestinians, with 71 killed in the last 24 hours. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to ensure aid to Gaza and prevent genocide, while the UN Security Council passed its first resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire.

Impact on Civilians

The Israel-Hamas war has had a devastating impact on civilians in Gaza, with over 27,748 people killed and more than 66,800 injured as of February 2024 [11]. The conflict has caused extensive damage to Gaza's infrastructure, with approximately 30% of the total structures destroyed or damaged [11]. As a result, almost two million Gazans have been displaced, with over 85 percent of the population fleeing their homes [12]. The humanitarian crisis has left the entire population of Gaza relying on aid to survive, with an estimated 90% facing crisis levels of food insecurity [11].

The health system in Gaza remains crippled, with only 14 out of 36 hospitals partially functioning [7]. Hospitals are running extremely low on rationed fuel reserves and medical supplies [11], making it difficult to provide adequate care to the injured and sick. The World Health Organization has warned of disease spread in addition to mounting civilian casualties [12]. The situation is particularly dire for pregnant women, with an average of 180 women giving birth each day, facing the possibility of doing so without anesthesia, sufficient sanitary precautions, or surgical intervention if necessary [7].

Children in Gaza have been severely affected by the ongoing conflict, with thousands killed and injured [21]. An estimated 17,000 Palestinian children are unaccompanied or separated from their parents [22], and one in six children in the north of Gaza are acutely malnourished [6]. The trauma experienced by children in Gaza is profound, with a study in 2022 finding that 80% of children showed symptoms of emotional distress, about half contemplating suicide, and three out of five kids self-harming [23]. The long-term mental health impacts on children exposed to high levels of violence and instability are a significant concern [23].

International Response

The international community has responded to the escalating crisis in Gaza with a series of resolutions, orders, and calls for action:

1. The UN and ICJ:
2. • The UN has ordered Israel to ensure unhindered aid at scale for Gaza, prevent genocide, and open more land crossings for food, water, fuel, and other supplies [1, 27].
   • The UN Security Council has passed resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza [1, 13].
   • The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called for a significant increase in aid to Gaza, referring to the current situation as a "moral outrage" [2, 14].
   • The ICJ has ordered Israel to ensure Gaza aid, specifically opening more land crossings to allow aid into Gaza [27].
2. The US, EU, and other countries:
3. • The US has announced a temporary suspension of new funding to UNRWA following allegations by Israel that a dozen agency employees participated in Hamas's October 7 attack [11].
   • The US, EU, and G7 support humanitarian pauses and corridors for aid delivery [13].
   • The US and EU have announced additional humanitarian aid to Gaza and sanctions against Hamas and other Iran-aligned groups [13].
   • The UK Government advises British nationals in Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Lebanon to register their presence and leave Lebanon [13].
   • The UK has deployed military assets to promote de-escalation, conduct surveillance activities, and participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks [13].
3. Humanitarian organizations and calls for action:
4. • The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed significant concerns about the lack of access to Gaza for delivering humanitarian assistance and the possible collapse of hospital provision in southern and central Gaza [28].
   • UNICEF is calling for an immediate and long-lasting humanitarian ceasefire, safe and unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, the immediate, safe, and unconditional release of all abducted children, respect and protection for civilian infrastructure, and urgent medical cases in Gaza to be able to safely access critical health services or be allowed to leave [21].
   • Donors and the international community are urged to recognize that the constraints on the Palestinian economy, specifically in Gaza, extend beyond the recent confrontation [10].
   • The resolution of Gaza's crises requires ending the military operation and the lifting of the blockade, as pivotal steps toward realizing a two-state solution along 1967 borders, in line with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions [10].

Humanitarian Aid Challenges

Despite the efforts of international organizations like UNICEF and UNRWA to provide essential goods and services [11], delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip faces significant challenges:

1. Safety and Access: The ongoing conflict makes it difficult for humanitarian workers to move safely and access children and families in need [17]. Aid workers also face personal losses and challenges, such as lack of electricity, food, and running water [17].
2. Logistical Hurdles:
3. • Insufficient trucks and fuel, slow and unpredictable inspection processes for relief supplies, and restrictions on essential materials hamper aid delivery [17].
   • Critical medical supplies have been restricted, and damaged infrastructure for storing and transporting aid, including warehouses, further complicates the situation [17].
   • Frequent communications blackouts disrupt mobile services and internet connectivity, making real-time information exchange difficult [34]. Staff resort to pen and paper due to the absence of wifi and unstable electricity, delaying information gathering and hampering data management and sharing [34].
3. Specific Challenges:
4. • The World Food Program (WFP) has temporarily paused food deliveries to isolated northern Gaza due to increasing chaos [6]. The halt in aid deliveries is a 'temporary pause', with the WFP in discussions to resume shipments [6].
   • Delivering inside of Gaza and delivering from Egypt face chronic shortages of fuel, chaotic border scenes, changing geographic areas of response, and overcrowding [34].
   • At least 300 trucks of private commercial goods are needed daily to help people purchase essential goods, relieve community tension, and stimulate cash assistance programmes [17].

The US military is scrambling to build a floating dock off Gaza's shore to facilitate urgently needed food deliveries [2]. However, the pressing need to break the cycle of economic destruction that has rendered 80% of the population dependent on international aid remains a critical challenge [10].

Children and Families in Distress

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has had a devastating impact on children and families, with exposure to violent conflict significantly affecting a child's development, leading to effects that can endure into adulthood [22]. The rights of children, as listed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, are being violated daily [22], with children at risk of death, injury, and the long-term impacts of an entire generation suffering from extreme trauma and poor mental health [22].

Some of the grave violations against children in Gaza include:

1. Children being held hostage by armed groups, a practice condemned by the UN Security Council [35].
2. Hospitals and schools being targeted by bombings and used for military purposes [21].
3. Children being cut off from essential services and falling out of reach of humanitarian aid [21].

To address these issues, psychological support is being provided to help children deal with the trauma [22]. However, more needs to be done to protect the rights and well-being of children in Gaza. As stated by UNICEF, "Even wars have rules and no child should be cut off from essential services, nor fall from the reach of humanitarian hands [21]." It is crucial that hospitals and schools are protected from bombings and not used for military purposes [21], and that no child is held hostage or used by any means in armed conflict [21].

Economic Strain and Infrastructure Collapse

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has had a devastating impact on the economy and infrastructure of the region. According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the damage to the infrastructure is estimated to cost $4 billion for reconstruction [9]. The blockade has resulted in high unemployment rates, with the overall rate reaching 47% in 2020 and youth unemployment even higher at 64.9% [9].

Gaza's economy has experienced a significant contraction due to the conflict:

• GDP plummeted by more than 80% in the fourth quarter, decreasing from around $670 million in the third quarter to just $90 million [25].
• The Gazan economy had already contracted by 4.5% in the first three quarters of 2023 [10].
• The military operation in Gaza has resulted in a 24% GDP contraction and a 26.1% drop in GDP per capita for the entire year [10].

The economic impact of the Israeli military operation on Gaza is expected to last for decades, with increased poverty and reduced household expenditure [25]. Even with an immediate end to the fighting, bringing Gaza back to the socioeconomic conditions that prevailed prior to the outbreak of the current confrontation would take decades without a properly funded recovery programme fully backed by the international community [10]. The possibility and speed of recovery in Gaza will depend on ending the military operation, donors' engagement, and subsequent growth performance [10].

Efforts Towards Peace

Despite the ongoing conflict, various efforts towards peace in the Gaza Strip have been proposed and implemented by international organizations, governments, and individuals:

1. Two-State Solution: The two-state solution is widely considered the appropriate avenue to ensure security for all peoples and states in the Middle East, realize peace, and ensure stability in the region [29]. Israel's concept for achieving this involves taking control of security in Gaza, destroying Hamas, and controlling the Philadelphia corridor between Gaza and Egypt [29].
2. USAID Programs:
3. • The Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (MEPPA) provides up to $250 million over five years to advance peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians through economic cooperation and people-to-people peacebuilding programs [36].
   • USAID's People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund supports Israeli-Palestinian partnerships that build on a proven record of solving common economic and social development challenges, promoting greater understanding, mutual trust, and cooperation [36].
   • Since 2004, USAID/West Bank and Gaza has invested over $100 million toward 166 Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) activities, which provide opportunities to cultivate solutions, reconcile differences, and promote greater understanding and mutual trust by working on common goals [36].
3. Proposals and Initiatives:
4. • Qatar mediated talks to release Palestinian and Israeli prisoners in exchange for women and children held by Hamas [37].
   • Dennis Ross, a veteran negotiator, emphasizes the need to build two bridges: one from the current situation to the "day after" the war, and another creating a viable path to a Palestinian state [38]. He suggests recognizing a Palestinian state but requiring its attributes to be negotiated later [38].
   • Peter Beinart emphasizes the need for Israel to empower Palestinians, release Marwan Barghouti, and dismantle West Bank settlements [26].
   • Jerome M. Segal proposes an immediate move to Palestinian statehood in Gaza on a three-year trial basis [26].
   • May Pundak and Dahlia Scheindlin suggest a confederation of two states, with joint mechanisms and institutions for critical shared concerns [26].
   • Sulaiman Khatib and Avner Wishnitzer propose building a culture of peace through rehumanization, shared values, and concepts, as well as joint professional frameworks [26].
   • Diana Buttu emphasizes that the future of Gaza is for Palestinians to decide and that any solution must include an end to Israel's regime of oppression and measures to hold Israel accountable for any war crimes it has committed [26].

Future Outlook

The future outlook for the Gaza Strip remains uncertain as the conflict has spread beyond its borders, with Israel targeting Iran-linked groups in Lebanon and Syria [12]. In response, these groups have launched attacks on U.S. military positions in Iraq and Syria, while Yemen's Houthi rebels have targeted Israel and commercial ships in the Red Sea [12].

Israel's plan for the "Day After Hamas" involves:

1. Destroying the governing and military capabilities of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
2. Securing the return of Israeli hostages
3. Preventing long-term security threats from Gaza
4. Maintaining security control over the entire area west of Jordan, including a fully demilitarized Gaza and a security buffer zone along the Palestinian side of the border
5. Controlling the closure of the Egyptian-Gaza border [32]

The plan also rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians and unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state [32]. However, some argue that incorporating Hamas and its "spirit of resistance" into a new Palestinian authority, rather than quashing or excising it, could lead to a more sustainable solution [39].

Palestinian political parties view the future of the Gaza Strip after the war through two primary aspects:

• Gaza as an internal Palestinian issue that requires resolution among various Palestinian political powers and must be endorsed by the Palestinian people
• Gaza as inseparable from the broader objectives of the Palestinian political cause [33]

Conclusion

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, with countless lives lost, infrastructure destroyed, and families torn apart. Despite the efforts of international organizations and governments to provide aid and support, the challenges of delivering assistance in a war-torn region remain immense. As the conflict continues to escalate, the long-term impacts on the physical and mental health of the population, particularly children, are a grave concern.

Moving forward, the international community must prioritize finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict, one that ensures the safety and well-being of all individuals in the region. While the path to peace is complex and multifaceted, it is crucial that all parties involved work towards a solution that upholds human rights, promotes stability, and allows for the rebuilding of Gaza's shattered infrastructure and economy. Only through open dialogue, compromise, and a commitment to non-violence can hope for a brighter future in the Gaza Strip be realized.

FAQs

Q: What is the current situation in Gaza?
A: Gaza is currently experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel has imposed a hermetic closure, cutting off access to essential resources such as food, water, fuel, electricity, medical supplies, and other goods. This has led to people suffering and dying from starvation and disease, with the situation worsening every day.

Q: How can I contribute to aiding Gaza at this time?
A: You can help by donating to organizations like the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), which provides emergency relief in Gaza. Your donations will aid in humanitarian efforts, help cease the violence, and promote the establishment of peace. Additionally, you can support the AFSC's work in advocating for Palestinian rights.

Q: What are the living conditions like for people in Gaza?
A: The living conditions in Gaza are extremely dire. Due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, there are critical food shortages, and nearly two million people have been displaced from their homes. The United Nations reports that those who remain, especially in northern Gaza, are at risk of famine.

Q: Which entities hold power over Gaza?
A: The governance and control over the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, known as the Palestinian territories, are divided among three main entities: the Palestinian Authority, the militant group Hamas, and the state of Israel. Each has varying degrees of influence and sovereignty in the region.