Israeli occupation army continues to shut down Gaza’s border crossings for 224th consecutive day, exacerbates Gaza catastrophe

GAZA, Dec. 17 YPA) – The Israeli occupation army continues to shut down Gaza’s border crossings for the 224th consecutive day, preventing the travel of the wounded and sick for treatment abroad and blocking the entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

This has resulted in the death of hundreds, the spread of diseases, and Gaza is now on the brink of disaster.

The occupation has been closing the crossings since its invasion of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and its control of the Rafah border crossing and Kerem Shalom crossing, despite warnings from humanitarian organizations and international calls to reopen the crossings to prevent famine caused by the halt in aid, and to save the lives of thousands of sick and injured people.

Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network, confirmed that 25,000 patients and wounded individuals in Gaza need immediate medical evacuation.

Shawa explained in a press statement that hospitals in Gaza are under continuous siege by Israeli occupation forces.

The Ministry of Health stated that over 25,000 patients and wounded individuals in Gaza are currently in need of treatment abroad, and none of them have been able to leave the Gaza Strip since Israeli forces took control of the crossings, putting thousands of lives at risk of complications and death.

Meanwhile, Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Program (WFP), stated that two million people in Gaza are facing severe hunger, and the Gaza Strip received only a third of the trucks needed by the program last month.

“North Gaza was hit hardest—just 2 trucks reached thousands of hungry people. Safe, unfettered access at scale is needed to save lives & avert famine,” McCain said in a post  on X (formerly Twitter).

She emphasized the need to ensure safe and unobstructed humanitarian access at the required scale to save lives and prevent famine.

@E.Y.M