Amidst heavy losses in Gaza, as the death toll nears 8,000 while more than 20,000 are injured, the Pakistani foreign minister has urged the international community to put Israel under pressure to make a ceasefire as per the United Nations resolution.
On Friday, October 27 United Nations passed a resolution that called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Which Israel neglected because it is intended to tie Israeli hands, according to Israel’s UN ambassador.
Israel has turned lights off and cut all communication in Gaza as death toll rises. In this hour of darkness we must not lose sight of plight of innocent Palestinians.Pakistan calls on Int community to exert pressure on Israel to respect UN Res demanding an immediate ceasefire
— Jalil Abbas Jilani (@JalilJilani) October 29, 2023
Background to the situation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “second stage” in the war. The announcement came following a weekend bombardment that disrupted communication with the outside world. It triggered concerns from human rights organizations about the documentation of potential war crimes in Gaza.
Israel had imposed a total siege on Gaza, leading to limited supplies of basic necessities and medicines reaching the enclave. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed regret over the intensification of military operations in Gaza, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
Read more: Complete communications outage in many areas across Gaza: Palestinian Media
Thousands of desperate Palestinians in Gaza, after enduring three weeks of total siege and bombing, broke into several UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warehouses to obtain wheat, flour, and other essential goods. This incident indicates a breakdown of civil order due to the prolonged conflict and tight siege.
Several hospitals in Gaza have been forced to close due to a lack of fuel. UNRWA is facing significant challenges in providing for the needs of displaced Palestinians. Supplies on the market are running out, and humanitarian aid from Egypt is insufficient.
The overcrowding in UNRWA facilities, where internally displaced people are sheltering, poses a severe public health crisis. UNRWA’s ability to assist the people in Gaza has been stretched to the limit by the conflict’s impact on its staff and supply movement.