PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: A boat carrying crucial aid for the war-torn Gaza Strip, where the United Nations has issued repeated warnings of famine, was set to depart from Cyprus amidst ongoing deadly clashes between Israeli forces and Hamas militants just before the start of Ramadan.
The maritime journey is intended to alleviate the access restrictions that humanitarian organizations and Western nations have attributed to Israel. This initiative comes as Gaza’s 2.4 million residents continue to face immense challenges, especially in the northern region of the Palestinian territory.
The United States-based charity World Central Kitchen announced that it is currently loading aid onto a vessel in Cyprus, the nearest European Union member-state to Gaza. This marks the inaugural shipment along a sea route that the EU Commission anticipates will open on Sunday.
Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently visited the Joint Search and Rescue Coordination Center in Larnaca, emphasizing the importance of this humanitarian effort.
Open Arms, a non-governmental organization involved in the mission, stated, “Our tugboat is ready to set sail at a moment’s notice,” underscoring the urgency of the situation.
In light of limited ground access, several countries have resorted to air-dropping aid supplies. Canada has announced its participation in such missions, although a tragic incident occurred when a parachute malfunction led to a fatal delivery. The responsible nation for this mishap remains undisclosed.
Tragically, the Health Ministry in Gaza reported the deaths of three more children due to malnutrition and dehydration, bringing the total number of such casualties to 23. Additionally, 82 individuals lost their lives in airstrikes the previous day, pushing the total death toll in Israel’s attacks on Gaza to 30,960, with a majority being women and children.
Israel’s retaliatory actions against Hamas were triggered by the movement’s attacks on southern Israel in early October, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths, predominantly civilians according to official Israeli figures.
Despite the efforts to deliver aid by sea, the UN’s World Food Program has cautioned that the current volume of assistance may not be sufficient to prevent famine in Gaza.
As preparations for the aid vessel continue in Larnaca, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a “pilot operation” in collaboration with World Central Kitchen. There is hope that the maritime corridor could officially open on Sunday with support from the United Arab Emirates, although specific details are still pending.
Senior US administration officials revealed that President Joe Biden’s recent announcement of a “temporary pier” to receive aid off Gaza complements Cyprus’ proposed maritime corridor. However, Biden acknowledged the challenges in securing a new truce agreement before the onset of Ramadan.
Humanitarian workers and UN officials advocate for improved truck access to Gaza as a more effective solution compared to aid airdrops or sea shipments. Tragically, five Palestinians were killed and ten injured by an airdrop in northern Gaza, highlighting the risks associated with such delivery methods.
Various countries, including Belgium, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, and Canada, are actively participating in aid missions to Gaza. Canada’s Minister of International Development, Ahmed Hussen, emphasized the urgent need to address the looming threat of mass starvation in certain parts of Gaza, particularly in the northern region.