The humanitarian crisis in Gaza intensifies as Israeli forces expand operations, leading to significant casualties and destruction. The World Food Programme (WFP) warns of an impending famine, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urgently referred the matter to the UN Security Council. Since Tuesday, 5 December, the Israeli military has been conducting operations in the southern city of Khan Younis, involved in “intense battles” with Hamas fighters. The conflict has resulted in “unimaginable loss, destruction, and misery,” and “everyone in Gaza is hungry,” according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Israel’s security cabinet on Wednesday, 6 December, approved a “minimal” increase in the amount of fuel entering Gaza, but global leaders and aid groups assert that there needs to be much more assistance entering the enclave. On Thursday 7 December, 69 trucks carrying urgently needed aid entered Gaza from Egypt, which is less than half the daily average observed during the Israel-Hamas truce last week, according to the United Nations’ humanitarian agency. In the same vein, only 61,000 liters of fuel managed to pass through on Thursday, significantly below the average of 110,000 liters. The United Nations…
