The number of casualties due to Israel's attacks in Gaza has surpassed 20,000.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, Kudra, emphasized in a statement that Israel's ongoing disruption of electricity, water, and fuel poses a severe threat to the lives of the injured and sick, leading to a "horrific health and environmental catastrophe."
8,000 children have lost their lives
According to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, as of December 20, 8,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, with an additional 5,000 children reported missing.
Number of displaced in Gaza exceeds 1.9 million
A written statement from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) highlighted that since the beginning of the Israel-Palestine conflict, over 1.9 million Palestinians have been forced to leave their homes.
EU: Basic necessities should reach those in dire need
EU Council President Charles Michel shared a message quoting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the social media platform X, emphasizing the need to ensure urgent humanitarian access to Gaza for essentials such as food, water, and fuel.
Stressing the importance of respecting universal values and human dignity at all times and everywhere, Michel noted that these principles form the core of the EU. He added, "International law and international humanitarian law must be respected. Basic necessities must reach those in the most difficult situations."
UN: Cutting off resources for Gaza's population is a war crime
Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, stated in an interview with AA that cutting off resources and starving the besieged population in Gaza constitutes a war crime and, if intentional, amounts to a crime against humanity.
Albanese highlighted the dire situation in Gaza, stating, "A significant portion of the Palestinian population in Gaza is being annihilated. It's no different from before, but more severe."
Regarding Israel's decision to cut off water, electricity, food, and other essential services in besieged Gaza, Albanese underscored that depriving the population under blockade of basic necessities is a war crime. She concluded, "If this is intentional and part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, it also constitutes a crime against humanity."
