Relief agencies have stated that hunger is worsening among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip as the United Nations General Assembly prepares to vote today, Tuesday, on an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian reasons in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, which has lasted for two months. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since the United States vetoed a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire last Friday. Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been displaced from their homes, and they report that it has become impossible to find shelter or food in the crowded coastal enclave. The United Nations World Food Program has indicated that half of the population is suffering from hunger. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) stated on X, "Hunger is pursuing everyone."
Residents of Gaza say that individuals who have been repeatedly displaced are dying from hunger and cold, as well as from bombardments, and they talk about the looting of aid trucks and a drastic rise in prices. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the Israeli attack has resulted in 18,205 deaths and nearly 50,000 injuries. It is likely that the 193-member General Assembly will approve a resolution today that includes language similar to a resolution blocked by the United States in the 15-member Security Council last week. While General Assembly resolutions are not binding, they carry political weight and reflect global opinions. Some diplomats and observers expect this vote to receive more support than the General Assembly's call in October for an "immediate, permanent, and sustainable humanitarian truce."
