Israel blocking entry of blankets, clothes and shoes to Gaza as winter sets in: Rights group

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has raised alarms about the worsening humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, warning that Israel's severe limitations on essential goods are intensifying the suffering of nearly two million displaced Palestinians amid cold weather.

The Geneva-based organization issued a statement on Wednesday, criticizing Israel for restricting the flow of essential goods such as clothing, blankets, and shoes, which the NGO said is aimed at imposing dire living conditions on the Palestinian population that will ultimately lead to their destruction as part of a broader genocidal campaign in the Gaza Strip.

“Despite the advent of a harsh winter and dire humanitarian circumstances, Israel continues to prevent blankets, clothing, and shoes—including necessities for children—from entering the Gaza Strip. Israel has been blocking the entry of these items into the besieged enclave for over a year now,” the statement read.

According to the rights organization, the impact of the blockade is profound, as the majority of displaced families live in makeshift shelters such as tents or schools, lacking access to necessary resources even the most basic necessities amid harsh weather conditions.

“The total number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip in the past period contained aid that did not exceed 6% of the population’s daily needs—the majority of which are related to food supplies—and the clothing and shoes allowed to enter the enclave did not exceed 0.001% of residents’ needs,” the NGO added.

Gazans enduring freezing cold for 2nd consecutive year

For the second consecutive winter, the people of Gaza are enduring harsh weather as a new cold front sweeps across the Strip.

The report said that Israel has demolished over 70% of the residential structures in the Gaza Strip, along with a significant number of shops and markets, including clothing retailers, while also restricting Palestinian merchants' capacity to manage the import of goods with Israeli officials.

Moreover, the limited access to crucial medical services significantly heightens the risk for Palestinians, making them more vulnerable to severe illnesses such as respiratory infections and other cold-related ailments, it added.

The NGO also warned that the population's immune systems have been significantly weakened due to food shortages and limited dietary diversity, coupled with a heavy dependence on canned goods, making them increasingly susceptible to viruses and diseases.

The continued deprivation faced by the residents of Gaza is not only a humanitarian crisis but it could be classified as genocidal, it said.

A siege within siege: 130,000 children under 10 trapped in northern Gaza

Save the Children says about 130,000 Palestinian children aged under 10 in northern Gaza have been cut off from food and aid supplies since Israel launched a siege on the area.

The report also underscored an urgent need for the international community to act, not only to provide humanitarian aid but also to hold accountable those responsible for such inhumane conditions.

It asserted that efforts aimed at pressuring Israel through sanctions and enforcing arrest warrants are vital for international institutions in tackling this humanitarian crisis. The report also called for swift measures to alleviate sufferings and uphold the rights and dignity of the Palestinian population.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has killed at least 44,282 Palestinians and wounded 104,880 others since October 7, 2023, while almost all of its population has been displaced.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk