In a devastating turn of events, the Gaza Strip, home to approximately 2.3 million people, has been thrust into an energy blackout as Israel intensifies its response to a recent attack by the Palestinian group Hamas. The densely populated enclave, already reeling from Israeli missile strikes, is now facing a complete cutoff of fuel, food, and other essential supplies. Hospitals, already overwhelmed by casualties, are particularly at risk as they rely on generators ill-equipped to power critical medical equipment.
The Gaza Strip’s sole power plant, set to run out of fuel on Wednesday, will leave the enclave in darkness. Israel’s decision to cut off electricity and block the entry of vital resources is part of a “total siege” strategy enacted in retaliation against the Hamas attack. Furthermore, Egypt has closed its crossing into Gaza following Israeli air raids on the border area, further exacerbating the dire situation.
Without electricity, the people of Gaza must now rely solely on backup fuel-run generators. However, the Palestinian Health Minister, Mai al-Kaila, has expressed concern that the fuel stock for hospitals will be depleted, intensifying the already disastrous conditions. With a blockade in place for nearly two decades, the Gaza Strip has been isolated from the rest of the world, earning it the grim designation of an open-air prison. Dependence on supplies from or passing through Israel has been a lifeline for the region, but even this has been severed by the current “total siege.”
International law experts and human rights advocates condemn Israel’s actions as a clear violation of international law. Srinivas Burra, an international humanitarian law expert and professor, emphasizes that once a country declares itself at war, it must adhere to the rules of war, particularly in safeguarding civilians. Israel’s punitive measures against civilians are deemed illegal and unjustifiable.
Hospitals in Gaza, already overwhelmed by the aftermath of Israeli bombings, are now grappling with the shortage of electricity and dwindling fuel supplies. Hassan Khalaf, the medical director of Al-Wafa Hospital in Gaza City, warns that the generators have a limited lifespan of just a few days, leaving vulnerable newborns and patients relying on electricity-powered medical equipment in grave danger. The situation is described as “mass killing,” as approximately 1,100 patients depend on dialysis machines for their survival.
Criticism of Israel’s actions extends beyond human rights organizations. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volcker Turk, has stated that Israel’s refusal to supply essential commodities to the Gaza Strip is a violation of international law. Even the European Union, a staunch supporter of Israel’s self-defense claims, has condemned the total siege on Gaza, asserting that it violates international law.
The dire situation in the Gaza Strip calls for urgent international attention and intervention. The lives and well-being of millions hang in the balance as they face a critical shortage of essential resources, compounded by the ongoing conflict. The international community must rally together to address this humanitarian crisis and ensure the protection of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
