Although the world is more focused on the ongoing Israel-Iran War, a lot of severe genocidal acts are underway as a backdrop in Gaza. The 2.2 million people who are living in the Gaza Strip in abysmal conditions are just surviving, day after day.
Amidst the war, Israel again closed the Rafah border crossing after it was reopened just a month ago. It is undoubtedly a heinous attack on the innocent civilians of Gaza. Gaza’s only direct gateway to Egypt has once again pushed the enclave toward a severe humanitarian catastrophe.
Israel was allowing just a limited number of aid supplies into Gaza before the Rafah closure, but this genocidal act has completely stopped every humanitarian effort. As a result, the crisis of food shortages, medical collapse, and worsening hunger is getting extreme.
Rafah Crossing: Gaza’s Last Remaining Humanitarian Lifeline
The Rafah crossing has long been Gaza’s most critical humanitarian corridor. Unlike other crossings that are controlled by Israel, Rafah connects Gaza directly to Egypt and the wider Muslim world.
The Rafah crossing serves through:
- Entry of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and fuel
- Evacuation of wounded and critically ill patients
- Entry of doctors, journalists, and international humanitarian workers
Gaza’s population is heavily dependent on imported supplies. The enclave produces less than 20% of the food it consumes, making border access essential for survival.
Before the latest closure, aid agencies estimated that 500 to 600 humanitarian aid trucks per day were needed to meet Gaza’s basic needs. In reality, only a fraction of that number has been able to enter.
Ultimately, when Rafah shuts down, Gaza’s already fragile humanitarian system quickly begins to collapse.
Gaza’s Growing Hunger Crisis
Food insecurity in Gaza has reached alarming levels.
The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands of people are now facing severe hunger, and food insecurity is reaching its highest levels. Humanitarian agencies report that many families have already reduced their daily meals to one per day or less.
Key indicators illustrating the scale of the crisis are as follows:
- Over 80% of Gaza’s population relies on humanitarian food aid
- Nearly a million Palestinians face catastrophic food insecurity
- Food prices in local markets have surged dramatically due to shortages
Basic staples such as flour, rice, cooking oil, and sugar are becoming increasingly difficult to find. When supplies do appear in markets, prices are often far beyond what ordinary families can afford.
But now, as the aid is completely blocked, the survival of these families is uncertain.
Hospitals on the Edge of Collapse
Before the Rafah closure, critical patients were admitted to Egypt’s hospitals for better medical care. However, since its abrupt closure, medical officials warn that hospitals – a few remaining ones – across the territory are facing critical shortages of medicine, surgical equipment, and fuel needed to power generators.
Key health statistics revealing the severity of the situation are as follows:
- More than half of Gaza’s hospitals are no longer operational.
- Thousands of patients require urgent evacuation for treatment abroad.
- Fuel shortages threaten intensive care units and dialysis centers.
Doctors report that shortages of antibiotics, anesthesia, and surgical materials are forcing hospitals to delay or cancel life-saving procedures.
Moreover, Electricity is another point of contention. Gaza’s power grid has been heavily damaged, meaning hospitals rely almost entirely on diesel generators. Without regular fuel deliveries, critical medical services could stop altogether.
The Role of the Regional Escalation
The latest humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unfolding against the backdrop of a wider regional confrontation involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.
Military tensions between these countries have intensified dramatically, raising fears of a broader Middle Eastern war. As security concerns rise, Israel has tightened its illegal control over Gaza’s borders, including restrictions affecting humanitarian aid routes.
In practice, these security measures primarily impact civilians living in Gaza, who are already struggling with displacement, economic collapse, and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The result is that Palestinians in Gaza are once again paying the highest price for geopolitical conflicts that extend far beyond their territory.
The Genocide and Growing Global Criticism
The entire world is appalled by the scale of genocide and devastation in Gaza by Israel, with the unravelling support of the US.
The International Court of Justice, the United Nations, and other international organizations have declared it a genocide.
Critics argue that the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, mass displacement, and restrictions on food and aid amount to a form of collective punishment prohibited under international humanitarian law.
At the same time, many Western governments continue to provide Israel with political and military support, framing its actions as legitimate self-defense.
For many observers across the Muslim world and the Global South, this response highlights what they see as a profound double standard in the enforcement of international law.
A Population Pushed to the Edge
For Palestinians in Gaza, the closure of Rafah is not simply a political development, but an existential crisis.
Every closed crossing means no aid trucks, medical evacuations, and absolutely no opportunities for relief. Each restriction deepens the humanitarian emergency facing a population already enduring one of the most severe crises in modern history.
With Gaza’s borders sealed and humanitarian access restricted, the enclave’s two million residents remain trapped in a territory where survival increasingly depends on decisions made by distant political and military figures.
This is not so bothersome for the people living outside Palestine, but one must feel the pain that they are living through. How can we survive without food, water, and medical supplies for days and even years? How can we see our children, elders, and women die of hunger, thirst, and bombs? The world must take action before it’s too late!
