UNRWA calls for urgent fuel delivery to Gaza to prevent shutdown of basic services
Without prompt shipments of fuel, UNRWA cautioned, Gaza faces a complete collapse of critical lifeline services such as hospital generators, ambulances, bakeries, and water pumping stations, which would exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation and amount to collective punishment of Gaza's 2.4 million residents.
Gaza's Health Ministry echoed the warning, stating that power generators are nearing shutdown due to severe fuel shortages, threatening the operation of the remaining hospitals and healthcare facilities.
The ministry renewed its urgent appeal for international pressure on Israel to allow the necessary fuel to sustain lifesaving medical equipment.
The crisis deepened earlier this week when Al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical center, announced the suspension of dialysis services due to lack of fuel.
Since March 2, Israel has maintained a strict blockade, closing crossings to food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, worsening famine-like conditions and increasing suffering across the enclave.
Despite global calls for a ceasefire, Israeli military operations have continued unabated, resulting in the deaths of over 57,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since October 2023.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the conflict in Gaza. Additionally, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave. — Agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
15 minutes ago
- Saudi Gazette
Israel strikes over 100 targets in Gaza as Netanyahu heads to Washington
GAZA — Israeli airstrikes killed at least 38 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, as the military announced it had targeted more than 100 sites in the past 24 hours. The escalation comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to travel to Washington for White House talks aimed at advancing a potential ceasefire agreement. Hospital officials in Gaza said 20 people were killed and 25 wounded in two separate Israeli strikes on residential homes in Gaza City. In the southern coastal area of Muwasi, 18 more Palestinians — including members of two families — were killed in overnight bombings, according to medical teams at Nasser Hospital in nearby Khan Younis. Many of the victims were living in makeshift tents after months of displacement. The Israeli military confirmed it had struck 130 targets across Gaza, including what it described as Hamas command centers, weapons caches, and rocket launchers. It claimed several militants were killed in the northern part of the enclave but did not comment on the reported civilian casualties in individual strikes. The renewed bombardment comes as U.S. President Donald Trump promotes a proposed 60-day ceasefire plan. The deal would include a partial release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian access to Gaza, where acute shortages of food, fuel, and medicine have pushed the enclave to the brink of collapse. On Saturday night, Israel's security cabinet approved the delivery of aid to northern Gaza, a region that has experienced severe famine conditions. An Israeli official confirmed the decision but declined to elaborate, speaking anonymously due to media restrictions. In parallel regional developments, Yemen's Houthi rebel group claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. The Israeli military said all missiles were intercepted and caused no casualties. Netanyahu's office said an Israeli delegation will head to Qatar on Sunday to participate in indirect negotiations with Hamas, amid reports that the group had requested 'unacceptable' changes to the current draft deal. The prime minister is set to meet Trump in Washington on Monday. It remains unclear whether an agreement can be reached before that meeting. Hamas has demanded international guarantees that any temporary truce would evolve into a full ceasefire and include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Netanyahu, however, has publicly rejected those terms, reiterating that military operations would resume until Hamas is fully dismantled. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages. Since then, Israel's offensive has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The toll includes large numbers of women and children, though the ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. — Agencies
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Far-right Israeli minister Smotrich lashes out at Netanyahu over Gaza war policy
Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized on Sunday a cabinet decision to allow some aid into Gaza as a 'grave mistake' that he said would benefit the militant Palestinian group Hamas. Smotrich also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to ensure that Israel's military is following government directives in prosecuting the war against Hamas in Gaza. He said he was considering his 'next steps' but stopped short of explicitly threatening to quit the coalition. For the latest updates on the Israel-Palestine conflict, visit our dedicated page. Smotrich's comments come a day before Netanyahu is due to hold talks in Washington with President Donald Trump on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire. '... the cabinet and the Prime Minister made a grave mistake yesterday in approving the entry of aid through a route that also benefits Hamas,' Smotrich said on X, arguing that the aid would ultimately reach the group and serve as 'logistical support for the enemy during wartime.' The Israeli government has not announced any changes to its aid policy in Gaza. Israeli media reported that the government had voted to allow additional aid to enter northern Gaza. The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The military declined to comment. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing aid for its own fighters or to sell to finance its operations, an accusation Hamas denies. Gaza is in the grip of a humanitarian catastrophe, with conditions threatening to push nearly a half a million people into famine within months, according to UN estimates. Israel in May partially lifted a nearly three-month blockade on aid. Two Israeli officials said on June 27 the government had temporarily stopped aid from entering north Gaza. Pressure Public pressure in Israel is mounting on Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire, a move opposed by some hardline members of his right-wing coalition. An Israeli team left for Qatar on Sunday for talks on a possible Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. Smotrich, who in January threatened to withdraw his Religious Zionism party from the government if Israel agreed to a complete end to the war before having achieved its objectives, did not mention the ceasefire in his criticism of Netanyahu. The right-wing coalition holds a slim parliamentary majority, although some opposition lawmakers have offered to support the government from collapsing if a ceasefire is agreed. The war erupted when Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's retaliatory war in Gaza has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave's health ministry. Most of Gaza's population has been displaced by the war, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded, and much of the territory lies in ruins.
Leaders
3 hours ago
- Leaders
Trump to Press Netanyahu for Gaza Ceasefire in High-Stakes White House Meeting
U.S. President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, urging him to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza as part of a broader push to end the nearly two-year-long war with Hamas. The meeting comes amid growing international pressure to halt the violence that has devastated the Palestinian enclave since 7 October, 2023. Trump, seeking to capitalize on recent diplomatic gains—including a truce between Israel and Iran—has vowed to take a firmer line with Netanyahu in pursuit of a deal. 'There could be a Gaza deal next week,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. While describing himself as 'very optimistic,' he cautioned that negotiations remain fluid. 'It changes from day to day. It's been changing for years.' According to Trump, Israel has agreed to a 60-day pause in hostilities, while Hamas has shown openness to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. However, finalizing an agreement remains a complex challenge, with Netanyahu continuing to insist that Israel will not stop its military campaign until Hamas is decisively defeated. This will be Netanyahu's third White House visit since Trump returned to office in January. The two leaders worked closely during the recent Israel-Iran conflict, which saw the U.S. launch coordinated airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Washington claimed the strikes severely set back Tehran's atomic ambitions—an assertion Iran disputes. Yet Gaza presents a more immediate and politically fraught dilemma. Trump, who has hinted at aspirations for a Nobel Peace Prize, appears increasingly concerned by the mounting civilian toll. 'We have to get it over with. We have to do something about Gaza,' he said Friday. Shift in Tone While Trump previously floated a controversial proposal for U.S. administration of post-war Gaza, that idea has largely faded. Now, the president is focusing on humanitarian concerns and the release of Israeli hostages still held in the territory. 'I want the people of Gaza to be safe, more importantly,' Trump said earlier this week. 'They've been through hell.' He met with Edan Alexander, a former hostage recently freed by Hamas, at the White House on Thursday, highlighting ongoing U.S. efforts to secure the release of remaining captives. Trump is hoping to revive stalled diplomacy after two previous ceasefires—brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S.—temporarily paused fighting but collapsed shortly afterward. Geopolitical analysts suggest that Monday's meeting could be pivotal. 'We're likely to see strategic negotiations in Trump's signature 'grand bargain' style,' said Michael Horowitz, an independent analyst. 'Even Netanyahu recognizes that the military operation in Gaza is reaching its limits, and an exit plan is needed—albeit on his own terms.' Related Topics: Iran Has Not Agreed to Inspections, Give up Enrichment: Trump Hamas Studies Trump's Ceasefire Proposal, Israel Signals Seriousness France Offers Help for Safer Gaza Aid Distribution as Trump Urges for Ceasefire Short link : Post Views: 49
