More than 100 international and Christian relief groups are sounding the alarm of extreme hunger, malnutrition and dehydration among Palestinians in Gaza amid Israel’s siege and war against Hamas.
They warn of “mass starvation” in Gaza if Israel and the U.S. don’t allow for more aid to flow into the war zone.
The Holy Land war ignited after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and hostage takings.
An estimated 20 Israeli hostages remain held by Hamas in Gaza as President Donald Trump struggles to forge a ceasefire that includes their release.
The aid groups said Israel’s ongoing siege of Gaza and control over relief supplies coming into the war-torn area is resulting in hunger and public health crises including for aid workers as well as the most vulnerable (such as children, the elderly and pregnant women.)
“As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families. With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organizations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes,” the relief groups said in a statement Wednesday.
Group signing on to the alert include major international relief organizations such as Oxfam International, Amnesty International, Doctors without Borders and Save the Children.
A number of Christian and other religious relief groups are also part of the warning call.
Those include the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) (the Quakers), Roman Catholic groups Caritas Internationalis and Caritas Jerusalem, Christian Aid, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), Pax Christi USA and Episcopal Peace Fellowship.
While the relief groups blame Israel for curtailing and controlling aid shipments into Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces blame Hamas for stealing and hoarding aid and threatening Gazans who go to aid sites operated by Israel and U.S. contractors.
“ As Hamas hoards resources and hides underground, civilians above suffer the consequences of Hamas’ actions,” the IDF said in a social media post that accompanied a video showing alleged Hamas fighters with underground foodstocks.