The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday urged the creation of a humanitarian passage into the besieged Gaza Strip. Gaza is currently under Israeli bombardment, following attacks initiated by the Hamas movement.
A WHO spokesperson emphasized, in a Geneva press briefing, the necessity of the corridor to provide vital medical supplies to the inhabitants. This plea comes as medical supplies stored in Gaza have reportedly been depleted.
There have been 13 confirmed attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the escalation began, according to the organization. The United Nations reported on Tuesday that over 187,500 people have been displaced in the Gaza Strip since Saturday.
The complete blockade of the Strip is “prohibited” under international humanitarian law, according to the UN. Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that imposing a siege endangers civilian lives by depriving them of essential survival goods, which is prohibited under international humanitarian law.
Turk also noted that the blockade must be justified by military necessity; otherwise, it might constitute “collective punishment,” potentially escalating the situation and impacting the operation of medical facilities.
Israeli aerial operations have struck large residential towers in Gaza and schools, resulting in civilian casualties. Since Saturday, four schools and eight healthcare facilities in Gaza have been affected, according to the United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
The UNOCHA has voiced concerns about a “sharp shortage” of drinking water in Gaza due to Israeli authorities cutting off water supplies. UNICEF has also warned that concerning actions, such as cutting off water and fuel to Gaza, will lead to a new level of suffering.
It noted that “hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian children have been killed and a larger number injured over the past three days.” Hamas launched a surprise operation against Israel across the border fence on Saturday morning, resulting in 900 deaths inside Israel.
Israel retaliated with aerial and artillery bombardments on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, which so far have killed 687 people in the sector, according to reports. Approximately 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, which has been controlled by Hamas and besieged by Israel since 2007.
