Gaza Faces Catastrophic Hunger as International Calls for Two-State Solution Intensify Amid Escalating Casualties
Gaza is enduring a severe humanitarian crisis, with alarming reports indicating that one in three residents has not eaten for days, and children are increasingly suffering from malnutrition due to a critical shortage of food aid. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza comes as international pressure mounts for a lasting resolution to the conflict, with the Vatican, along with numerous nations, advocating for a two-state solution.
According to a UN official, the hunger crisis has reached “new and astonishing levels of desperation,” with nearly 100,000 women and children severely acutely malnourished. Despite Israel’s recent decision to scale up aid for a week, allowing over 100 truckloads of supplies, the UN emphasizes that sustained access, faster clearances, consistent fuel, and safe corridors are urgently needed to avert widespread famine and a public health catastrophe. Tragically, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since May while attempting to obtain food, often near aid distribution points.
In a similar development reflecting the atrocities committed by the Israeli regime, two Palestinian families in occupied East Jerusalem were forced to demolish their homes to avoid heavy fines or imprisonment for allegedly building without permits. The Quraan family in Jabal Al-Mukabbir and the Halawani family in Beit Hanina, whose six housing units housed 30 people, including children, had to self-demolish to avoid costly penalties. Israel frequently denies Palestinians building permits while expanding Jewish settlements. From 1991 to 2018, only 16.5% of permits in Palestinian neighborhoods were approved. The Jerusalem governorate calls this a systematic policy to displace Palestinians. Human Rights Watch and others criticize these demolitions as discriminatory. Since Israel’s October 2023 Gaza attack, 623 Palestinian homes and businesses in Jerusalem have been demolished.
The escalating conflict, which commenced on October 7, 2023, has resulted in a devastating toll, with over 59,700 Palestinians killed and more than 144,000 injured in Gaza. These figures include a significant number of women and children. The Vatican has joined the chorus of international voices, including 28 countries like the UK, France, and Canada, in calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a global push for a two-state solution, aiming to establish a sovereign and independent Palestinian state with recognized borders. This urgent plea coincides with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes, and Israel facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
