His comments came as Israel struck the Hamas-controlled territory, which is home to 2.3 million people. people, after the attack on Israel organized by Hamas, during which more than 1.2 thousand were killed. people. Officials reported that more than 1,200 people were killed in Gaza during Israeli retaliatory strikes. people.
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, invading its territory and launching rocket attacks. Israel carried out retaliatory strikes on the Gaza Strip.
Hamas is the Palestinian militant group that rules the Gaza Strip and has been involved in several wars with Israel since taking over the Gaza Strip in 2007. The group has been recognized as a terrorist by Israel, the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and some other countries.
Hamas is supported by Iran, financing the purchase of weapons, supplying them and providing military training. Hamas has a political office in Qatar, where some of its leaders are based.
2.3 million people live in the Gaza Strip. people, but Israel, with the help of Egypt, has imposed a blockade on the territory since 2007 – it restricted the import of goods to and from the territory by water, sea or air, as well as the ability of the Palestinians themselves to leave the territory, except for a few tens of thousands of workers.
#ICRC #humanitarian #situation #Gaza #Strip #spiral #control
What specific actions can the international community take to pressure both sides towards a ceasefire?
## Interview: The Devastation in Gaza
**Host:** Joining us today is [Guest Name and Credentials] to discuss the unfolding crisis in Gaza. The situation there is dire, with reports of tens of thousands of Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction. Can you shed some light on what’s happening on the ground?
**Guest:** The situation in Gaza is nothing short of catastrophic. The recent Israeli air strikes, in response to the Hamas attack on Israel, have resulted in immense devastation. As you mentioned, officials are reporting over 1,200 deaths in Gaza alone [[1](https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-hamas/)], with the number likely to climb significantly.
**Host:** The scale of the destruction is alarming. What are the immediate humanitarian concerns?
**Guest:** The most pressing need right now is access to medical care. Hospitals are overwhelmed with injured civilians, and there are severe shortages of essential supplies. The civilian population is trapped in a besieged territory with limited access to food, water, and electricity. This is creating a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.
**Host:** Given the scale of the violence, what are the prospects for a ceasefire?
**Guest:** Unfortunately, the path to a ceasefire remains unclear. Both sides appear entrenched in their positions, with no immediate signs of negotiation. The international community is calling for a cessation of hostilities, but so far, these pleas have gone largely unanswered.
**Host:** What can the international community do to alleviate the suffering in Gaza?
**Guest:** Immediate humanitarian aid is crucial. We need to ensure that aid organizations can access Gaza to provide urgently needed medical care, food, and shelter. Additionally, diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire must be intensified. This is a complex conflict with a long history, but the international community cannot stand by while innocent civilians continue to die.
