Gaza City, Sunday — The Hamas-run media office declared the Gaza Strip a \"disaster zone\" on Sunday, warning of an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of its over 2.4 million residents. As widespread destruction continues and essential resources dwindle, Hamas is calling on the international community to intervene immediately.
In a press statement, the media office reported that more than 61,709 people in Gaza have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict, including 47,487 confirmed dead in hospitals. An additional 14,222 individuals remain missing under the rubble of destroyed buildings. The number of injured has soared to 111,588, exacerbating the strain on the crippled healthcare system.
The conflict has displaced over 2 million Palestinians, with many forced to flee their homes multiple times due to ongoing airstrikes and ground operations. The office reported that approximately 450,000 housing units have been damaged, including 170,000 that have been completely destroyed.
The destruction has severely impacted vital infrastructure and services. The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with 34 hospitals and 80 healthcare centers forced out of service. The statement estimated economic losses exceeding $50 billion, citing the widespread devastation of industrial, commercial, agricultural, education, and communication sectors.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly due to the ongoing Israeli blockade, which has led to severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. The lack of essential supplies is putting hundreds of thousands of lives at risk, the statement warned.
\"We are facing an unprecedented catastrophe that threatens to spiral out of control if immediate action is not taken,\" the media office stated. \"We urge the United Nations and international organizations to deliver humanitarian aid without delay and to ensure the protection of civilians under international law.\"
The office accused Israel of committing \"systematic war crimes\" with the support of the United States, calling on the international community to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
The mounting crisis in Gaza underscores the urgent need for international intervention to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of millions of Palestinians caught in the conflict.
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Hamas warns of humanitarian crisis in Gaza, urges international action
cgtn.com
