GAZA, (PIC)
The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) has called for the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings, which have been closed by Israel for 45 days, and for the urgent delivery of aid, particularly medical supplies, to save the lives of civilians from “imminent catastrophe.”
In a press release on Friday, PCHR called for “immediate and urgent international intervention to reopen crossings and allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, including medicines, medical supplies, food and fuel, to save the lives of two million Palestinians who are enduring deadly conditions deliberately imposed by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) since 7 October 2023.”
“For 45 consecutive days, IOF has been tightening these conditions through closure of all crossings and blocking aid entry into Gaza,” PCHR said.
PCHR said that Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his war minister Israel Katz, openly stated their policy of preventing humanitarian aid entry into the Gaza Strip and using aid as a bargaining chip.
PCHR emphasized that Israel’s closure of Gaza crossing is a war crime, a violation of the international humanitarian law, and a blatant disregard for the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) rulings which urge the immediate and large-scale flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
PCHR called on ICJ to monitor Israel’s compliance with its precautionary measures and obligate Israel to adhere to them.
PCHR also condemned the decision by the ICJ president to extend the time limit for the filing of the Counter-Memorial of Israel in the case concerning the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip to January 2026.
“This decision [by the ICJ president] comes while Israeli military offensive intensifies on the Gaza Strip and forced displacement of its population from their lands continues amid Israel’s declaration of the illegal annexation of these lands. Israel also continues to target civilian objects, including hospitals, education facilities and shelters, with incendiary bombs that have burnt Palestinian civilians alive in their tents in front of the whole world that remains silent,” PCHR said.
According to PCHR’s field monitoring, “the closure of crossings ongoing for the second consecutive month has forced bakeries to shut down due to prevention of fuel entry and scarce materials essential for bread production, including flour.”
“Food in Gaza is now limited to rice meals only which are prepared by charity kitchens due to the depletion of goods and food supplies from the markets, including meat, vegetables and fruits. Hunger and thirst are widely spreading in the Gaza Strip severely affecting the most vulnerable groups, especially women and children. Around one third of pregnant women in Gaza, a total of 55,000 women, are experiencing high-risk pregnancies while 130 babies are daily born with 27 percent of them born via C-sections. Nearly 20 percent of newborns are born prematurely, underweight, or with complications needing advanced care that is rapidly diminishing,” PCHR explained.
“Regarding the healthcare sector, medical facilities are facing a devastating crisis as stocks of medicines and medical supplies are running out, rendering them unable to provide lifesaving medical interventions for patients and the wounded,” PCHR said.
