DOHA: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) issued a disturbing report on Saturday, revealing that acute malnutrition is escalating rapidly among Palestinian children under the age of 2 in northern Gaza. This revelation comes as Israel prepares to send a delegation to Qatar for fresh Gaza ceasefire talks.
The dire situation in Gaza has prompted growing international pressure on Israel, with concerns mounting over the looming famine in the besieged Palestinian enclave. UNRWA’s alarming findings indicate that one in three children in northern Gaza is now suffering from acute malnutrition, underscoring the urgent need for humanitarian intervention.
Israel’s decision to engage in further talks with mediators follows a new ceasefire proposal put forward by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas, which includes provisions for the exchange of hostages and prisoners. The delegation, led by the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, David Barnea, is expected to discuss the proposal before the negotiations commence.
Gaza Ceasefire Efforts Amid Israeli Bombardment
Efforts to secure a ceasefire ahead of holy month of Ramadan have thus far been unsuccessful, with Israel signaling its intention to launch a new offensive in Rafah, the last relatively safe city in Gaza after months of conflict. The ongoing ground and air campaign by Israel has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 31,500 Palestinians deaths reported by Gaza’s health ministry, mostly comprising women and children.
The extensive destruction caused by the Israeli assault has forced the displacement of nearly all Gaza’s inhabitants, leaving swathes of the territory in ruins and exacerbating a severe hunger crisis. Despite calls from Western nations for Israel to facilitate aid access, the humanitarian response continues to face significant obstacles, including crossing closures, stringent vetting processes, and restrictions on movement.
While Israel maintains that it imposes no limits on humanitarian aid for Gaza’s civilians, aid agencies stress that air and sea relief deliveries are insufficient substitutes for land-based supply routes. Notably, the World Central Kitchen initiated a new sea route via Cyprus, delivering aid to Gaza on Friday. Additionally, the United States and Jordan conducted an air drop on Saturday to provide further assistance to those in need.
