Catastrophic annihilation of an entire population in Gaza - President Higgins' statement
In the embattled Gaza Strip, the United Nations is working tirelessly to ensure the safe and continuous flow of humanitarian aid to the region. The ongoing crisis, marked by significant impediments, has led UN agencies to call for a permanent ceasefire or open access to avert hunger and health crises.
As of now, approximately 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with only 20 believed to be alive, according to Israeli officials. The plight of these hostages has been further highlighted by the release of distressing footage showing two emaciated Israeli hostages, one of whom, Evyatar David, was shown digging what he claimed was his own grave in a staged video. This act has triggered particular outrage.
President Michael D Higgins has condemned the footage and called on the United Nations Security Council to do more for the people of Gaza. He also proposed the use of the Chapter VII procedure to allow the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to seek to put together an international defense of a corridor to allow aid into the enclave.
The UN procedure for ensuring aid access comprises several key elements. These include calls for an unrestricted and continuous flow of humanitarian and commercial supplies via all crossings into Gaza, the facilitation and safeguarding of aid delivery routes, and coordination with Israeli authorities to allow humanitarian convoy movement. The UN also advocates for ceasefires or humanitarian pauses that allow sustained aid operations rather than intermittent or unilateral pauses.
Despite these measures, such as "local tactical pauses," designated secure routes, and limited aid deliveries, significant challenges remain. UN agencies emphasize that the scale-up of aid must go beyond tactical pauses to a permanent ceasefire or open access. The UN repeatedly stresses that civilians should not be forced to risk their lives seeking food and that aid convoys face dangers including attacks along routes.
In the past 24 hours, six more people have died of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza, raising the toll to 175 since the war began, including 93 children. At least 40 people have been killed by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes across the coastal enclave today.
In an effort to alleviate the crisis, nearly 1,600 aid trucks have arrived in Gaza since Israel eased restrictions late in July. However, many of these trucks have been looted by desperate displaced people and armed gangs. To address this issue, two trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel are set to enter Gaza, months after Israel severely restricted aid access.
The impact of fuel shortages has severely impaired hospital services in Gaza, forcing doctors to focus on treating only critically ill or injured patients. A recent incident involving an Israeli strike at the headquarter of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Khan Younis in southern Gaza further ignited a fire on the first floor of the building.
As the crisis deepens, the UN's efforts to ensure safe, uninterrupted humanitarian operations into Gaza require full backing by all parties. The UN's procedures combine diplomatic negotiation for access, ground-level coordination for aid movement, and calls for protection of civilians and infrastructure. Only through collective action can the ongoing crisis in Gaza be effectively addressed.
[1] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-219835/ [2] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-220431/ [3] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-220803/ [4] https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-221202/
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip have led to significant challenges for the delivery of humanitarian aid, with approximately 50 hostages remaining and only 20 believed to be alive.
- In the realm of general-news and politics, President Michael D Higgins has called on the United Nations Security Council to take more action to address the crisis in Gaza, including the use of the Chapter VII procedure to create a corridor for aid.
- Aside from war-and-conflicts, other issues plaguing the Gaza Strip include car-accidents and crime-and-justice, resulting in at least 40 deaths by Israeli gunfire and airstrikes in the past 24 hours.
- Sports-betting might seem like a distant concern, but even it is impacted by the crisis in Gaza, with fuel shortages severely impairing hospital services, such as the recent fire at the Palestinian Red Crescent Society building. The UN's efforts to ensure safe, uninterrupted humanitarian operations require full backing by all parties, as outlined in their procedures on their official website (links [1], [2], [3], [4]).
