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 has restricted the entry of goods into the territory and their departure from it 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 role can the international community play in de-escalating the conflict and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?
## Interview: Gaza Caught in Crossfire
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is Dr. Alex Reed, an expert on Middle Eastern politics and humanitarian crises. Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for joining us.
**Dr. Alex Reed:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** The situation in Gaza is dire. We’ve seen reports of over 1,200 people killed in Israeli retaliatory strikes following the Hamas attack on Israel. How do you interpret the current situation?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** This is an absolute catastrophe. The initial Hamas attack on Israel was horrific, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,200 lives. [ [1](https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-12-21-2023-21ae2b257188e15ecace434fe497f601) ]. However, the Israeli response has been devastating for the civilian population in Gaza, a densely populated area with 2.3 million people. Each civilian life lost is a tragedy, and the international community must demand a ceasefire to prevent further bloodshed.
**Interviewer:** Israel has closed most border crossings into Gaza, making access to aid extremely difficult. What are the immediate humanitarian concerns you see?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** The closure of the border crossings is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The territory was facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and essential supplies even before the recent escalation. Now, with limited access for aid organizations, the situation is becoming even more catastrophic. We are talking about a potential humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes.
**Interviewer:** What can be done to de-escalate the situation and alleviate the suffering in Gaza?
**Dr. Alex Reed:** The international community must act decisively. We need an immediate ceasefire to stop the bloodshed and allow humanitarian aid to reach those desperately in need. Long-term solutions require addressing the root causes of this conflict, which involves a sustainable peace process and ensuring the rights and security of both Israelis and Palestinians.
**Interviewer:** Dr. Alex Reed, thank you for your insights. We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution to this terrible crisis.
