Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of mass starvation as a relentless Israeli offensive intensifies, severely limiting families' survival options, warned aid groups on Saturday. The dire situation unfolded a day after the United States vetoed a U.N. cease-fire resolution, hampering the delivery of essential supplies, including food, to the region.
Definition of Veto: To refuse to allow or accept something, such as a vote, even if most of the other people or organisations involved approve.
The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that its supply of basic necessities to the people in Gaza is on the verge of collapse amid escalating Israeli attacks. A
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UN warning states that half of Gaza's population is now facing starvation due to the escalating Israeli attacks. The U.N. World Food Program’s deputy executive director, Carl Skau, told Reuters after visiting Gaza that “half of the population are starving” and described the humanitarian needs as “massive”.
Israel persists with its bombardment of Gaza following the U.S. veto of a UN Security Council resolution seeking a cease-fire on Friday. This move, strongly condemned by humanitarian groups, has exacerbated the already dire conditions in the region.
The draft resolution, supported by a majority of the U.N. Security Council, called for an immediate halt to hostilities, the unconditional release of hostages, and humanitarian access in Gaza. The U.S. decision to veto the resolution, citing it as "rushed" and lacking consultation, triggered swift condemnation across the region. Human rights groups, American partners in the Middle East, and relief organisations operating in Gaza expressed their disapproval.
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The Israeli offensive has escalated in southern Gaza in recent days, displacing Palestinians toward Rafah, near the border with Egypt. Hospitals and shelters in the southern region are overwhelmed, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting hundreds of daily casualties.
The toll on civilians is devastating, with at least 17,700 Palestinians, primarily women and children, killed in two months, nearly 49,000 wounded, and many trapped under the rubble.
