The World Health Organization (WHO) Chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has issued a dire warning, stating that Gaza has descended into a "death zone" amid a worsening health and humanitarian crisis. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing military operations launched by Israel in response to attacks by Hamas.

Since the onset of the conflict, approximately 1,200 people have been killed, with more than 240 others taken hostage. The Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 29,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

The dire situation has forced more than a million Palestinians, half of Gaza's population, to seek shelter in Rafah, a city on the southern border with Egypt. The influx of displaced persons has overwhelmed the city's resources, leading to squalid living conditions with limited access to essentials such as safe drinking water and food.

Furthermore, the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended aid deliveries to northern Gaza due to the perilous operating conditions caused by Israeli attacks. The decision, though difficult, was deemed necessary to ensure the safety of aid workers and improve conditions for the population. However, this suspension leaves hundreds of thousands of Palestinians at risk of famine.

The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that thousands of children in northern Gaza are facing hunger, with long queues forming for food rations. Despite these dire circumstances, only a limited number of humanitarian aid trucks have been able to enter Gaza recently, exacerbating the crisis.

Access to essential services, including healthcare and sanitation facilities, has also been severely restricted, with the Israeli authorities denying or partially facilitating the majority of humanitarian missions in the region. This obstruction has further compounded the suffering of Gaza's population, leaving them vulnerable to disease and hunger.

As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, urgent action is needed to alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza and ensure access to lifesaving aid. International efforts are required to address the root causes of the crisis and work towards a sustainable solution for the region.