Intensified Attacks in Gaza City, U.N. asserting: "Hunger is artificially induced"
The international community is calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as the situation continues to deteriorate. Organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization have collectively urged for the long-awaited supply of food and medicine to be allowed.
The dire situation in Gaza has put at least 132,000 children under the age of 5 at risk of malnutrition due to the ongoing blockade of humanitarian aid by Israel. Reports from NGO ActionAid claim that Palestinian families and humanitarian organization staff are dying of hunger.
The Israeli military's advancement towards Gaza City has resulted in more than thirty reported casualties, including people seeking food aid and several children. The Israeli Defense Forces have announced their presence at the outskirts of Gaza City, with an expected entry into the city's heart in mid-September.
In response to these reports, the Israeli government has rejected the accusations, qualifying them as orchestrated by Hamas. The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has defined the UN report as an "obvious lie". The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has also dismissed the report, describing it as "partial data" and "superficial information".
Despite these denials, the UN report is shared by the majority of international humanitarian organizations. Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, and 16 other countries have publicly opposed Israeli settlement expansion and shown support for a peaceful resolution. Egypt and Qatar have also been involved in proposing a temporary ceasefire and peace negotiations, which have been accepted by Hamas, indicating their participation in peace talks. Germany, through its Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan, has expressed support for a two-state solution and called for a ceasefire, signaling readiness to contribute to peace negotiations.
In a bid to resolve the crisis, Israel is expected to send negotiators to resume fire ceasefire talks in the coming days. The million residents of Gaza City have been called for evacuation starting from this Sunday. Negotiations to set a date and place for the talks, which have been stalled since Israel and the United States withdrew their mediators from Doha last month, are already underway.
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza City remains volatile, with the Israeli military's expansion and reports of civilian casualties. A school housing displaced persons in the Sheikh Radwan suburb of Gaza City has been hit by Israeli aerial bombardment.
As the international community continues to call for a ceasefire and the supply of food and medicine, the future of Gaza remains uncertain. The situation underscores the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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