Gaza: Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to use humanitarian aid as a tool of pressure against Palestinians in Gaza, said Caroline Willemen, project coordinator for M©decins Sans Fronti¨res (MSF) in the Strip.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Willemen emphasized in a press statement on Sunday that humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip should not be tied to any political conditions. She highlighted that while Israeli attacks on Gaza have significantly decreased since the ceasefire took effect, notable incidents like the major attack on 19 October and near-daily firing persist.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with persistent water and shelter shortages. Willemen pointed out that hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in tents as winter approaches. MSF teams have recorded severe malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women, indicating that, despite a slight improvement in food availability, the nutritional situation remains a cause for concern.
Willemen further remarked, "Residents of Gaza have lived under the threat of mass extermination for two years." She stressed the urgent need for aid to ensure that people can at least sleep on a mattress with a blanket inside their tents. While rebuilding Gaza will be a lengthy process, she noted that the region has not yet reached even the minimum basic humanitarian standards required.
