UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has urged Israel to act immediately to ensure that all those not involved in the clashes between Israeli Defence Forces and Hamas fighters “to facilitate humanitarian food deliveries commensurate with needs.”

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution (22nd December) on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, with 13 votes in favour, and the US and Russia abstaining. The resolution, among others demands immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.

The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification IPC report states:

Hostilities, including bombardment, ground operations and besiegement of the entire population have caused catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity across the Gaza Strip. Around 85 percent of the population (1.9 million people) is displaced and currently concentrated into an increasingly smaller geographic area. 

Demonstrations in support of the people caught in the hell of the Gaza strip continue across Scotland. In Orkney islanders will again gather on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday 23rd December between 1 and 2 pm.

Last Saturday around 30 islanders took part in the Orkney vigil in worsening weather conditions. All of them were determined to continue with the vigils until the bombardment and slaughter of innocents ceases.

The entire population of Gaza – roughly 2.2 million people – is already living with crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity.

The UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, has warned that more than 690,000 women and teenage girls barely have any access to menstrual hygiene products.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed hope that the Security Council resolution to get more aid into Gaza, adopted on Friday, could pave the way to a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

 More than 20,000 Palestinians reportedly have been killed (but that number is most likely to be an underestimate) and 1.9 million people, 85% of the population, forced to flee their homes.

 António Guterres said “The real problem is that the way Israel is conducting this offensive is creating massive obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid inside Gaza.” 

136 personnel from the UN agency that assists Palestinians, UNRWA, have been killed since the start of the conflict, he said, adding that “nowhere is safe in Gaza.” 

Fiona Grahame