Two months of total blockade leave Gaza on the brink, as aid runs out, violence erupts, and a ship carrying relief is hit by a drone strike.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens After Two-Month Blockade
Exactly two months after Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, desperation and chaos are rising inside the enclave. With no humanitarian or commercial supplies entering Gaza since March 2, the 2.3 million residents now face the longest and most severe closure in the territory’s history. Food stocks are depleted, water is scarce, and hospitals are running out of basic medicines.
Violence Erupts Over Scarce Supplies
As basic necessities vanish, inter-communal violence has broken out across Gaza. Aid officials and residents report multiple incidents of looting and fights over dwindling resources. “Supplies are becoming depleted while the war rages on. Food stocks have now mainly run out,” said Olga Cherevko of the UN humanitarian office in Gaza City, describing scenes of people fighting for water and scavenging through trash for anything edible. The Red Cross warns that the humanitarian response is on the verge of “total collapse”.
Blockade Pushes Gaza to the Brink
The blockade, enforced by Israel since early March, has halted all aid and commercial deliveries, cutting off Gaza’s lifeline. International organizations stress that this is the longest ban on aid since the conflict began, and the consequences are catastrophic: children are starving, hospitals lack painkillers, and community kitchens are shutting down. The UN and Red Cross have called the situation “unacceptable” and urged Israel to immediately allow humanitarian access.
Aid Ship Attacked Amid Desperate Relief Efforts
Attempts to break the blockade have faced violence beyond Gaza’s borders. On Friday, a vessel carrying humanitarian aid and activists was reportedly struck by drones in international waters near Malta. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the mission, blamed Israel for the attack. The Maltese government confirmed the incident, stating that the crew and passengers were secured after a fire broke out on board. Turkey condemned the attack and called for an investigation.
International Outcry and Calls for Action
Global leaders and aid agencies are intensifying pressure on Israel to lift the blockade. The UN has condemned the restrictions as “cruel collective punishment” and warned that using starvation as a weapon could constitute a war crime. Humanitarian officials insist that aid must not be used as a bargaining chip, and that civilians should never be deprived of life-saving support.
Gaza on the Edge
With violence erupting over basic supplies and relief efforts under attack, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis is spiraling. As the blockade enters its third month, the world watches to see if urgent calls for aid access will be heeded-or if the enclave will plunge further into catastrophe.
As Gaza’s blockade stretches into a third month, desperation fuels chaos and violence. Will the world act before the humanitarian system collapses entirely?
