The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights has warned of “catastrophic” impacts as Israel continues to block fuel deliveries into Gaza, saying the shortages are crippling humanitarian work and breaching international law.
It said hospitals are being forced to reduce or suspend services, endangering patients in intensive care and surgery, while fuel shortages are also disrupting water, sanitation, communications, bakeries and transport.
The group described the policy as collective punishment and called on the UN and international community to pressure Israel to allow large-scale, regular fuel entry to avert a collapse of essential services.
Meanwhile, a young girl, identified by local media as Malak Rami Ghoneim, has died from extreme cold inside displacement tents in the Nuseirat refugee camp as winter conditions worsen and families lack adequate shelter and heating. Local journalists also reported that four Palestinians wounded by Israeli fire were admitted to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after being shot at two separate locations in the southern Gaza city.
In the occupied West Bank, armed Israeli settlers reportedly destroyed agricultural structures, chased residents and blocked access to land in the Hebron area, incidents that Palestinians say are part of near-daily settler attacks often carried out under the protection of Israeli forces.
PHOTO: MSF
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