The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (Euro-Med) issued a warning on Monday, stating that 400,000 Palestinians are at risk of starving to death amid the ongoing military operations by Israeli forces in northern Gaza. The organisation highlighted that, in addition to the threat of starvation, many lives are also at risk from the relentless conflict.
In a statement, the rights group noted that Israel’s blockade on aid entering northern Gaza for the past several weeks, coupled with its extensive military operations in the region, has put Palestinians at risk—not only from bombardments but also from the threat of widespread starvation.
“Due to the ongoing Israeli siege, about 200,000 Palestinians in the northern Gaza governorate have been without food or drinking water for 10 full days now,” the statement read.
“This is occurring as the Israeli army continues its invasion of the region, killing over 350 Palestinians and injuring hundreds more, while also destroying numerous homes and residential buildings,” the statement added.
War using Food as Weapon
The international organization reported that Israeli forces targeted dozens of Palestinians in the Jabaliya refugee camp on Monday morning while they were attempting to obtain food from the supply center of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
“The Israeli army targeted them with shells and quadcopter drones, killing 10 people and injuring at least 40 more. Many of the victims are still lying in the streets and cannot be taken to the hospital due to the threat of further Israeli violence,” the statement said.
Weaponizing Food as part of an Ongoing Genocide
Euro-Med accused the Israeli occupation authorities of weaponizing food as part of an ongoing genocide by banning the entry of any food supplies into northern Gaza.
“Given Israel’s declared decision to bar any aid from entering northern Gaza, which is the site of one of its biggest crimes of starvation, the survivors of this intense shelling are in danger of starvation Israel’s use of starvation as a lethal weapon,” the statement said.
It added that such Israeli actions “are meant to truly destroy the Palestinian population”, and come to “illustrate its blatant intent to continue carrying out the genocide it has been committing for more than a year in the Gaza Strip.”
Palestinians Trapped without Water
Euro-Med disclosed that thousands of residents in Jabaliya, Beit Lahia, and Beit Hanoun are trapped without access to food or water. The organization noted that Israeli forces had blocked aid from entering northern Gaza for weeks prior to the initiation of their latest military operations in the region.
“Many of the trapped residents had already been repeatedly forced from their homes and shelters, leaving behind personal possessions and food supplies each time they flee,” the statement stressed.
The rights organization reported that its Euro-Med team has successfully documented “hundreds of Israeli raids and shellings” over the past ten days, targeting homes, shelters, and streets in northern Gaza.
Palestinians Stuck in Streets
“Many victims and injured people are still stuck in the streets or homes, as they cannot be transported to hospitals; this is because Israeli forces have banned ambulances from moving through most of Jabaliya and its camp”, according to the statement.
Euro-Med stated that the only two hospitals still able to receive patients in the area are Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital, both of which are operating under extremely challenging conditions and with limited resources.
The rights organization urged the United Nations and the international community to take immediate action to enable “life-saving aid to enter northern Gaza” and to put an end to the genocide against Palestinians throughout the Gaza Strip.
It urged for a “comprehensive” arms embargo on the Jewish state to save the lives of thousands of Palestinians in the Strip and hold Tel Aviv accountable for its crimes.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced that no food aid has entered northern Gaza since October 1, impacting thousands of Palestinian families. In a statement, the WFP reported that food distribution points, kitchens, and bakeries in the region have been forced to close due to Israeli airstrikes, military ground operations, and evacuation orders. Furthermore, the only operational bakery in northern Gaza was set ablaze after being struck by an explosive munition.
“The north is basically cut off and we’re not able to operate there,” Antoine Renard, WFP Country Director for Palestine said.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israel has faced widespread international condemnation as it continues its aggressive offensive in Gaza.
Currently facing a trial at the International Court of Justice for genocide against Palestinians, Israel has been conducting a devastating military campaign in Gaza since October 7.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that since the onset of Israel’s ongoing military operations on October 7, 2023, 42,289 Palestinians have been killed and 98,684 have been wounded.
Additionally, at least 11,000 people are unaccounted for, presumed dead beneath the rubble of their homes across the Gaza Strip.
