The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza could constitute a war crime. Jeremy Lawrence, the spokesperson for the Commission, mentioned, “The ongoing Israeli restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, along with the manner in which combat operations continue, could amount to using starvation as a method of warfare, which constitutes a war crime.” Israel denies blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, the Gaza Health Ministry announced today that the death toll from the Israeli war on the enclave since October 7 has risen to 31,819, while the number of injured has increased to 73,934, according to the “Arab World News Agency.”
The ministry added in a statement, published by the Gaza Government Media Office, that 93 Palestinians were killed and another 142 were injured in Gaza during the past 24 hours. The statement also noted that there are still victims under the rubble and on the streets whom the ambulance and civil defense teams cannot reach.
The recent developments in the Gaza war have intensified with significant humanitarian, economic, and geopolitical repercussions. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised concerns that Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza could constitute a war crime due to the potential use of starvation as a method of warfare. Amidst the assault on Khan Younis, the Palestine Red Crescent reported heavy Israeli shelling and gunfire around the Khan Younis hospital, indicating a dire situation for civilians and medical facilities.
The ongoing conflict has prompted UN Secretary-General António Guterres to emphasize the urgent need for a two-state solution to address the crisis “once and for all.” He highlighted the “barbaric” Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7 and the severe humanitarian impact of the Israeli bombardment on Gaza, leading to widespread civilian casualties and the displacement of 1.9 million people. Despite Israel’s public assertions of scaling back the war, reports from Gaza indicate no let-up in the fighting, with nearly the entire population being displaced at least once, and many displaced multiple times.
The economic impact of the war on Gaza is profound and far-reaching. A UN report suggests that Gaza’s economic recovery could take decades, with tens of billions of dollars required for reconstruction. The conflict has resulted in a significant decline in Gaza’s annual GDP, exacerbating poverty, unemployment, and socioeconomic conditions that were already dire before the conflict.
