TRANSCRIPT
It's been three weeks since humanitarian aid last entered Gaza.
(Sound of pots clanging as people converse in a camp in Gaza)
Since Israel imposed a complete blockade on humanitarian supplies entering Gaza, the risk of widespread famine has emerged once again.
The World Food Programme says as a result of Israel's blockade, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza are at risk of severe hunger and malnutrition.
Spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Stéphane Dujarric says the blockade, coupled with relentless Israeli attacks, is making the delivery of aid increasingly challenging.
"Tens of thousands of tents and hundreds of thousands shelter items are waiting to enter Gaza, as the crossings remain fully shut. Many families forced to flee are unable to bring any of their belongings, further intensifying the shelter crisis. Dwindling shelter stocks in Gaza are completely insufficient to meet the immense needs. The World Food Programme, for its part, warns that hundreds of thousands of people are again at risk of severe hunger and malnutrition as humanitarian stocks dwindle and crossings remain closed. Ongoing insecurity and severe restrictions of movement are resulting in a significant disruption of food assistance."
The health ministry in Gaza has reported that Israeli strikes have killed at least 38 Palestinians in the last 24 hours, with medical sources reporting that 30 were in the north of the enclave.
The World Central Kitchen in Gaza says one of their volunteers, Jalal, was among those killed by Israeli strikes, with six other personnel injured in the attacks.
In 2024, Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was among several World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza.
In the last two weeks, separate Israeli strikes have hit both a Red Cross building and killed one worker in a strike on a United Nations facility.
Israel says the strike on the Red Cross facility was a case of misidentification, despite the Red Cross stating the building was clearly marked and well known to Israeli officials.
The Israeli military has also repeatedly denied it is responsible for the strike on the UN facility.
Mr Dujarric says Israel must do more to protect civilians and aid workers.
"Since the ground operation commenced in Rafah on Sunday, several ambulances belonging to the Palestinian Civil Defense, as well as the Palestine Red Crescent were hit while trying to rescue the wounded and their crew became trapped in the area. Contact with the teams was lost, but several casualties have been reported. Yesterday, an OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) and Red Crescent team attempted to help extract casualties and recover the ambulances, but they are unable to reach the area. We have also received reports of a number of civilians still trapped due to the ongoing hostilities. OCHA reiterates that civilians must be protected under international law. Health workers, including first responders, should never be targeted."
Earlier this week, the United Nations announced it will be reducing it's international staff in Gaza by around one third, citing security concerns as the reason.
Ziad Abu Harbid is a refugee in Gaza. He says without aid the people will die.
"We've had enough of hunger and humiliation. We prayed that UNRWA can continue its work, even at the bare minimum, otherwise it will be like starving us to death."
Hamas says it's spokesperson Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza.
Sources close to Hamas are reporting that talks are underway between Egyptian and Qatari mediators and members of a Hamas delegation.
The anonymous source told Agence France-Presse that mediators are engaging in discussions with all parties as part of efforts to revive a ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Negotiations between Hamas and Israel have been deadlocked for weeks following Israel's refusal to proceed to phase two of the deal until all Israeli hostages are released.
Mr Dujarric says without a deal, there will only be more suffering.
"We don't want to go backwards, right? There was a ceasefire that was enacted. Hostages were released, right? Families were united. Prisoners were released on the Israeli side, Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian aid flooded in. And you saw the immediate benefits to civilians of the ceasefire. That's what we want to go to. We do not want to go back to scenes of open conflict."
In Tel Aviv, thousands are protesting after Israel's parliament passed a law expanding the power of politicians over the appointment of judges, which is set to take effect at the start of the next legislative term.
The judicial reform package sparked one of the largest protest movements in Israel's history in early 2023, before being overtaken by the war in Gaza.
(Sounds of drumming)
Daily protests have also erupted over the government's handling of the hostage situation, with many in Israel fearing the resumption of strikes and blockade of goods will only endanger the hostages further.
Protester Galia Scherf says the new laws passed are a major threat to Israeli democracy.
"The parliament passed a law which changes our country almost entirely, on our way to becoming a dictatorship. The law that changed the way the court judges, are chosen. Instead of a professional body of judgment, it becomes very political. Politicians will be choosing our judges, which is very, very harmful for our democracy. This bill was passed this morning and we are very angry."
As well as protesting the new laws, people are also calling for an election, the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, and the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Aiden Iron says the current leadership in Israel must accept responsibility for the security failures of October 7, and then step down.
"We feel we have a horrible government. We want to get to election quick. We want to have an inquiry into what happened into the disaster of October 7, and we want the guy who is responsible, who is the prime minister. He was the acting prime minister on October 7, he gave all the money to Hamas, he is heavily involved in so many dirty shit - sorry about my language. We want him to accept that responsibility, step down and go to a quick election."
Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu has repeated his warning that Israel plans to seize territory in Gaza, if Hamas refuses to release the remaining Israeli hostages.
