The Israel forces have surrounded Gaza City, cutting off the northern part of the territory from the south. This move comes as the month-long war has already killed more than 9,700 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.
The Israeli military has said that the encirclement is necessary to prevent Hamas militants from moving freely between the northern and southern parts of Gaza. However, humanitarian groups have warned that the move will further isolate Gaza City and make it more difficult to deliver aid to the hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the fighting.
The United States has urged Israel to allow for a humanitarian pause in the fighting, but Israel has so far rejected the request. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is currently in the Middle East on a diplomatic mission, has said that he is “deeply concerned” by the situation in Gaza and is working with both sides to reach a ceasefire.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. More than 1.5 million people have fled their homes since the start of the war, and many are now living in overcrowded shelters with little access to food, water, or medical care. Hospitals are struggling to cope with the influx of casualties, and there is a shortage of essential supplies.
The international community must press Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The people of Gaza have suffered enough.
