Israel Launches New Ground Offensive East of Gaza City Amidst Worsening Humanitarian Crisis

Escalation of Ground Offensive

• ⚡ Israel's army has announced a new ground offensive east of Gaza City, expanding designated security zones.
• 🎯 The stated aim is to pressure Hamas into accepting ceasefire terms, following Israel's rejection of troop agreements from January.

Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation

• ⚠️ The Hamas-run health ministry reports 86 deaths in the last 24 hours, highlighting the ongoing casualties.
• 🗺️ The UN indicates that two-thirds of Gaza is under Israeli displacement orders or designated as no-go zones.
• 🚫 Aid supplies have not entered the Gaza Strip for over a month, exacerbating the crisis.

Oxfam's Operations and Needs

• 💧 Oxfam's humanitarian coordinator in Gaza describes a worsening and deteriorating situation, making it increasingly difficult to meet the population's needs.
• 📦 Since the beginning of March, Oxfam has been operating with remaining stocks due to the blockade, with no new deliveries.
• 🏥 The most urgent needs include food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, all of which are critically depleted.
• ⛽ Fuel is essential for the functioning of hospitals and water pumping stations; its depletion would lead to a complete shutdown of services.

Challenges for Humanitarian Workers

• 🌍 Oxfam's team in Gaza is largely composed of local Gazans working under extremely harsh and dangerous circumstances.
• 🛡️ There are no guarantees for the safe operation of humanitarian workers, with a significant increase in incidents against them since March 18th.

Call for International Action

• 📢 The international community is urged to speak up, uphold international humanitarian law, and demand accountability.
• 🆘 There is a strong concern that Gaza is on the verge of a man-made humanitarian disaster that could be avoided.