What's happened
Israel has shut down key crossings into Gaza, severely limiting aid access, potentially putting the humanitarian operation at risk. The UN warns that an Israeli assault on the Gaza town of Rafah, where a million displaced people are sheltering, could lead to a catastrophic loss of civilian lives and severely impact aid operations.
Why it matters
The closure of aid crossings into Gaza and the threat of an Israeli assault on Rafah have significant humanitarian implications, potentially leading to a severe crisis for the enclave's residents. The actions could jeopardize the delivery of essential supplies and medical care, endangering the lives of thousands of civilians and disrupting ongoing aid operations.
What the papers say
The UN's Jens Laerke highlighted the critical situation, stating that the closures could effectively end the humanitarian operation in Gaza. The World Health Organization expressed concerns over the potential impact on sick and injured patients. The US officials emphasized the need for a comprehensive plan to protect civilians in the event of an assault on Rafah.
How we got here
The escalating tensions stem from months of conflict triggered by Hamas fighters' cross-border attack in Gaza. The closures of aid crossings exacerbate an already dire situation in the region, where a million displaced people are seeking shelter. The potential assault on Rafah raises fears of a humanitarian catastrophe and a significant blow to aid operations.
More on these topics
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Rafah is a Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. It is the district capital of the Rafah Governorate, located 30 kilometers south of Gaza City. Rafah's population of 152,950 is overwhelmingly made up of former Palestinian refugees.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.