What's happened
The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza is dire, with UN officials warning of imminent risks of disease, famine, and violence. Israel's military offensive against Hamas has exacerbated conditions, leading to severe shortages of essential supplies and increasing civilian casualties. The international community is urged to intervene to protect civilians.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that Israel's actions could lead to 'ethnic cleansing' if the international community does not intervene. The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, stated that Israel's military actions risk 'emptying the area of all Palestinians'. In contrast, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon claims that aid is sufficient, accusing Hamas of hijacking assistance. This stark difference highlights the ongoing debate over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the responsibilities of both Israel and Hamas.
How we got here
The conflict escalated following Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, prompting a significant military response from Israel. Since then, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated, with reports of mass casualties and severe restrictions on aid access.
Common question
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What is the current humanitarian situation in Gaza?
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with dire warnings from UN officials about the risks of disease, famine, and violence. As the conflict escalates, many are left wondering about the root causes of this crisis and how the international community is responding. Below, we address some of the most pressing questions regarding the situation in Gaza.
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Gaza may refer to:
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is an Arab country in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River. Jordan is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and the east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and Israel and Palestine
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António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL is a Portuguese politician and diplomat who is serving as the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he was the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees between 2005 and 2015.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.