The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has plunged Gaza into a crisis as the United Nations has warned of a famine looming on the horizon. Ahead of an expected Security Council vote on a resolution to bolster aid to the Palestinian territory without calling for a ceasefire, the situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating. The few hospitals still operational are receiving an influx of wounded individuals after renewed Israeli strikes. In one district of Gaza City, 16 people were killed and over 50 were injured in a strike, while the northern part of Gaza no longer has any functioning hospitals.

The World Health Organization reported that out of the 36 hospitals in the territory, only nine are partly functioning. A distressing number of civilians have lost their lives, including women and children, and the entire population in Gaza is at risk of famine, with around 1.9 million Gazans now displaced. These displaced individuals are living in overcrowded shelters and struggling to find basic necessities like food, fuel, water, and medical supplies. The UN estimates that the aid entering Gaza is well below the pre-war average, putting the lives of the population in further jeopardy.

The devastation has prompted increasing pressure on Israel from international allies, including calls to protect civilians and adhere to humanitarian efforts. The war, which began on October 7, has resulted in a shocking number of casualties and has raised fears of wider conflict, with regular exchanges of fire across the Lebanon border. Amidst these dire circumstances, the United Nations and other international actors are striving to negotiate a resolution to address the crisis and provide immediate aid to Gaza. Stay tuned for more updates on the ongoing situation.