Gaza’s massive hunger urgently calls for a ceasefire
Over 100 aid groups warn of massive hunger in Gaza, urging ceasefires and unlimited aid access.
JERUSALEM/CAIRO – Israel and the US recall delegations from Gaza’s ceasefire talks for Thursday’s talks, with US envoy Steve Witkov accusing Palestinian extremist group Hamas of failing to act in good faith in the talks.
It marked the latest set of efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of Hamas’s holdings to ensure the release of Israeli hostages, and brought a rest for Palestinians struggling with a sharp and exacerbated humanitarian crisis.
Witkov said that although the mediators have put in great effort, “Hamas does not seem to be coordinated or acted in good faith.” “We’re now looking at alternative options to take hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza,” he writes in X.
There was no immediate response from Hamas.
Israeli officials with knowledge of the speech said the response to Hamas’ latest ceasefire proposal “does not allow for advances without concessions” by the group, but Israel intended to continue the debate.
Both Israel and Hamas face pressure both at home and abroad, reaching deals after almost two years of war, worsening the humanitarian situation within Gaza, and Israelis are worried about the situation where hostages are being held.
Dozens of people have been starving in Gaza in recent weeks as a wave of hunger hit the enclave, local health officials say.
British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer said Gaza’s suffering and starvation was a “unspeakable” humanitarian catastrophe and called on Israel to urgently seek assistance.
“The situation has been serious for a while, but it has reached new depths and continues to get worse. We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe,” Starmer said in a statement.
He will hold an emergency call with his French and German partners on Friday to discuss what he can do to “stop the murders and bring people with the food they desperately need.”
The Gaza Ministry of Health said two more people died of malnutrition. The head of Shifa Hospital in Gaza city said the two are patients suffering from other illnesses that have died after dying without food for several days.
Earlier in the day there were some obvious signs of progress in mediation.
A Hamas official told Reuters that there is still a chance that a ceasefire deal could be reached, but it would take several days for what he called Israel.
High Israeli officials were quoted from local media saying the new text was something that Israel could work for.
However, Israeli Channel 12 said swift deals are out of reach and there remains a gap between the two sides, including where Israeli forces should withdraw during the armistice.
Witkov’s team did not immediately respond to a request to explain Hamas’ demands that led to the withdrawal of US negotiators.
The Hostage Family Forum, which represents the family in Gaza, has expressed concern over the recall of the Israeli team. “Every day, there is a risk of losing the chance of recovery and the ability to find someone who has collapsed or gain important intelligence,” he said.
Pepper spray fired at the aid site
A woman on Thursday seeking assistance for her family said that the US contractor organizing the distribution asked to come and pick up the items and fired a spray of tear gas and pepper.
“The Americans said, ‘Go, go,’ and said no and came back. They scattered over us and we left. Five minutes later they shot us tear gas… Mervat Al-Sakani said.
In response to comment, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a spokesman for the aid organization, added that a limited amount of pepper spray was used “to prevent civilian injuries from overcrowding,” and that GHF “doesn’t want to get injured.” The spokesman said the distribution of women-only aid was an overall “great success.”
GHF, a US-Israel aid organization, began distributing food packaging in Gaza at the end of May.
The United Nations calls the GHF model an insecurity and a violation of the standards of humanitarian equity.
UN Rights Office said on July 15 that it recorded at least 875 killings in the last six weeks of the previous year near Gaza’s aid site and Food Convoy.
Most of these deaths were caused by shootings in which local people denounced the Israeli army. The military admitted that civilians were harmed, saying that Israeli forces had given new instructions in “learning lessons.”
Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza from the beginning of March and reopened in May with new restrictions, which it is working to allow aid but says it needs to be controlled.
Israel has accused the United Nations of slow delivery of it, saying it put enough food in Gazan. The United Nations says it works as effectively as possible under conditions imposed by Israel.
According to Israeli tally, the war began when Hamas killed around 1,200 people in an attack on Israel on October 7th and took 251 hostages. Israel has killed nearly 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to Gaza health authorities.
