Palestinians search for survivors after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 9, 2023. (Credit: Mohammed Abed/AFP)
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BEIRUT — “What happens 10 days from now, when we run out of food, medicine and fuel?” United Nations Relief and Works Agency spokesperson Adnan Abu Hasna told L’Orient Today on Monday, after Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Monday that he had ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, while the Israeli military said it had retaken control of communities near the coastal enclave that were stormed by Hamas militants in the unprecedented “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation Saturday.
Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least 493 people, including dozens of children, and left 2,651 injured, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, 74,000 Palestinians in the already besieged Gaza Strip are seeking refuge in 66 schools belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA’s spokesperson in Gaza Adnan Abu Hasna told L’Orient Today.
“Israel’s attack on Gaza has amplified the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, and now we are hearing talks of more food, water and electricity cuts.” He said the area was receiving just two hours of electricity per day since Saturday.
“On Saturday, when the Al-Aqsa Flood operation began, 20,000 Palestinians sought refuge in schools, today after three days of fighting more than 74,000 people are now spread in 66 UNRWA schools across Gaza,” Abu Hasna said.
“We will publish the official numbers in a few hours, and believe me the numbers will have also increased to a shockingly high extent,” he added.
UN workers are providing refugees with hot meals, electricity and clean water, funded by the UN, Abu Hasna told L’Orient Today.
According to international law, UN bases, schools, hospitals and parks are marked as “safe zones” in cases of war and conflict, however, Israel has frequently not abided by this law.
On Sunday, however, Israeli forces directly hit an UNRWA school sheltering displaced families in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA said in a statement. The school, sheltering more than 225 people, was severely damaged, though no casualties were reported.