"Cutting Off Gaza's Lifeline: The UNRWA Under Siege"
Gaza, a territory of 2.1 million people living on the brink of collapse, is witnessing its survival hanging by a thread. Famine conditions have moderately stabilized but the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen as families struggle without adequate shelter, children go to bed hungry, and basic healthcare remains out of reach for hundreds of thousands.
The situation is further exacerbated by daily Israeli air attacks and bombardments that have claimed over 500 Palestinian lives since the ceasefire agreement was announced in October. The recent demolition of seven UNRWA school compounds by Israeli forces has only added to the suffering, with mud-filled displacement camps becoming a breeding ground for disease outbreaks as winter rains turn these areas into seas of mud.
UNRWA, the largest and most comprehensive service provider in Gaza, is working tirelessly despite immense risks. With 11,000 staff operating since October 7, 2023, they provide essential services such as healthcare to almost 100,000 people each week, education to 70,000 children, and shelter to tens of thousands of displaced families.
However, these efforts are being severely impeded by systematic barriers that target the basic needs of the community. Goods are prevented from entering Gaza, international staff, including journalists like myself, are barred from entering Gaza, and communication with Israeli authorities is restricted due to a "no contact" law passed by the Israeli parliament in October 2024.
The attack on UNRWA is not just about dismantling an agency but also about targeting the very means for Palestinians to survive. Children's basic rights, including education, are being systematically denied as approximately 700,000 Palestinian children in Gaza are being denied their right to learn, a situation that had been addressed by UNRWA before the war.
The restrictions on essential supplies and services have turned basic shelter and construction materials into contraband, leaving families exposed to the elements. This brings us to an uncomfortable truth: The restrictions are part of ongoing efforts to systematically dismantle the means for Palestinians to survive.
UNRWA's capacity to provide continuous education, healthcare, social welfare, sanitation, humanitarian assistance, and other support is unparalleled in Gaza. Its ability to address the immediate needs of the community is essential if there is any hope of rebuilding what has been destroyed.
Preserving UNRWA until a lasting peace is achieved is crucial for anyone serious about Gaza's future. It is a pragmatic solution that defends the international rules-based order and humanity, compassion over cruelty.
The choice must now be clear: We can either stand by as Gaza's lifeline is systematically cut or we can act collectively to protect what remains and rebuild what has been destroyed.
Gaza, a territory of 2.1 million people living on the brink of collapse, is witnessing its survival hanging by a thread. Famine conditions have moderately stabilized but the humanitarian catastrophe continues to deepen as families struggle without adequate shelter, children go to bed hungry, and basic healthcare remains out of reach for hundreds of thousands.
The situation is further exacerbated by daily Israeli air attacks and bombardments that have claimed over 500 Palestinian lives since the ceasefire agreement was announced in October. The recent demolition of seven UNRWA school compounds by Israeli forces has only added to the suffering, with mud-filled displacement camps becoming a breeding ground for disease outbreaks as winter rains turn these areas into seas of mud.
UNRWA, the largest and most comprehensive service provider in Gaza, is working tirelessly despite immense risks. With 11,000 staff operating since October 7, 2023, they provide essential services such as healthcare to almost 100,000 people each week, education to 70,000 children, and shelter to tens of thousands of displaced families.
However, these efforts are being severely impeded by systematic barriers that target the basic needs of the community. Goods are prevented from entering Gaza, international staff, including journalists like myself, are barred from entering Gaza, and communication with Israeli authorities is restricted due to a "no contact" law passed by the Israeli parliament in October 2024.
The attack on UNRWA is not just about dismantling an agency but also about targeting the very means for Palestinians to survive. Children's basic rights, including education, are being systematically denied as approximately 700,000 Palestinian children in Gaza are being denied their right to learn, a situation that had been addressed by UNRWA before the war.
The restrictions on essential supplies and services have turned basic shelter and construction materials into contraband, leaving families exposed to the elements. This brings us to an uncomfortable truth: The restrictions are part of ongoing efforts to systematically dismantle the means for Palestinians to survive.
UNRWA's capacity to provide continuous education, healthcare, social welfare, sanitation, humanitarian assistance, and other support is unparalleled in Gaza. Its ability to address the immediate needs of the community is essential if there is any hope of rebuilding what has been destroyed.
Preserving UNRWA until a lasting peace is achieved is crucial for anyone serious about Gaza's future. It is a pragmatic solution that defends the international rules-based order and humanity, compassion over cruelty.
The choice must now be clear: We can either stand by as Gaza's lifeline is systematically cut or we can act collectively to protect what remains and rebuild what has been destroyed.
this is just disgusting 
how can they do this to innocent ppl? 500+ lives lost already & they're still bombing the place 
unhrwa is doing everything it can to help but they're getting suffocated by these barriers 
news should be saying what's really happening in gaza instead of just reporting on it 
700k kids can't even get a decent meal let alone learn to read & write 
we need to be asking ourselves what's next? how much more can they take before someone takes action 
it's not just about Israel & Palestine, it's about humanity 
we need to put our differences aside for once & think about what's best for ppl not politics 
. The fact that UNRWA is being targeted by Israel is just heartbreaking. I mean, the agency is already working with so little resources, it's amazing they're managing to provide services to 100,000 people a week and all.
. We can't just stand by and watch this happen. The international community needs to step in and demand that these restrictions be lifted, so Palestinians can rebuild their lives.
u dont no how ppl in gaza r sufferin rn, its like they r livin on the edge of death & stil nobody is doin enuf 2 help 
it's all about humanity, compassion & helpin each other out 
. The fact that UNRWA is still trying to provide basic services like healthcare and education despite all these obstacles is just...wow 
. And those kids, fam... 700k of 'em are being denied their right to learn 
I mean, journalists like me are barred from entering Gaza just because they're trying to do their job? That's just... crazy 
. It's like, we gotta call out this stuff for what it is – a blatant disregard for human rights and basic decency 
.
. So yeah, let's get behind UNRWA and the people of Gaza – we gotta stand up for what's right, even if it feels hard 
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. Let's not forget that these are human beings we're talking about, not just statistics or news headlines 
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the situation in gaza is getting worse by the day its like a ticking time bomb waiting to happen 500+ palestinian lives lost already and that number keeps going up no end to the suffering these people are going through basic healthcare education shelter everything is just out of reach 
. I mean, I'm not saying it's easy or that there are easy answers, but some sort of collective effort needs to happen here. We can't just sit back and watch as Gaza gets slowly strangled by the system.