The United Arab Emirates urged the United States to support an immediate ceasefire in the Israeli war in Gaza, warning of the increasing daily risk of regional escalation as the conflict, ongoing for three months, intensifies.
Bloomberg News Agency reported that the UAE’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Lana Nusseibeh, said in an online interview from New York, “We need a humanitarian ceasefire now, we cannot wait another 100 days.
The current situation in Gaza as of January 2024 is extremely dire, characterized by a profound humanitarian crisis and escalating conflict. According to reports from the United Nations and other sources, the ongoing war has led to a catastrophic level of hunger and famine in Gaza, with 80% of the global population facing famine or catastrophic hunger now located in the region. The entire population in Gaza is experiencing hunger, with a quarter starving and struggling to find food and drinkable water. The risk of famine is imminent, and children under five are at high risk of severe malnutrition, which could lead to stunting and long-term cognitive and physical impairments.
The number of fatalities in Gaza since the start of hostilities on October 7, 2023, is staggering. As per the Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 22,313 Palestinians have been killed, with about 70% being women and children. In addition, there have been 57,296 reported injuries. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have been conducting intense bombardments across much of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the Deir al Balah and Khan Yunis governorates, leading to mass displacement and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, there have been 330 Palestinian deaths, including 84 children, with most killed by Israeli Security Forces, others by settlers, and one either by Israeli forces or settlers. This has been accompanied by a significant increase in violence and settler violence, leading to forcible displacement of entire herding communities, which may amount to forcible transfer.
The humanitarian situation is further exacerbated by the destruction of Gaza’s food system and infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, bakeries, places of worship, and water systems. Israel has been accused of using food as a weapon against the Palestinian people by destroying and blocking access to farmland and the sea, severely hampering the availability of food and essential supplies. The healthcare system in Gaza has also collapsed due to the widespread destruction of medical facilities, which has greatly increased the risk of communicable diseases.
Efforts to deliver humanitarian aid have been severely hindered. For instance, UN aid convoys have faced delays and obstacles, with only a fraction of planned deliveries reaching their destinations. This has left the population in dire need of medicines, food, and other lifesaving supplies.
