NUNZIUM

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, marked by hostage-taking, a worsening food crisis, and the targeting of hospitals, reached a brief pause on Wednesday when Israel's Cabinet approved a temporary cease-fire deal. This agreement, secured on November 22, included the release of 50 Israeli hostages seized by Hamas during terror attacks, and the liberation of 150 Palestinian women and children from Israeli prisons. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that this pause is not indicative of an impending end to the conflict.

The toll of the war is heavy. Hamas' cross-border incursion into Israel resulted in around 240 hostages and approximately 1,200 deaths, while the retaliatory airstrikes on Gaza have allegedly killed over 13,300 Palestinians, including at least 5,600 children. The international community has reacted with alarm, with South Africa severing diplomatic ties with Israel and Chinese President Xi Jinping suggesting an "international peace conference" to address the Palestine issue.

The conflict has also triggered a severe food crisis in the Gaza Strip, due to the closure of crossings, mass displacement, and bombing of bakeries. The United Nations reported that no bakery in northern Gaza has been operational since November 7, due to a lack of fuel, water, wheat flour, and structural damage. This crisis has been aggravated by Israel's total blockade of the Gaza Strip since October 7, restricting the entry of aid convoys.

Amidst the chaos, there are claims that Hamas has a command center located beneath Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. This allegation has prompted international concern, with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak advocating for the protection of the Al-Shifa hospital. Hamas, however, denies these claims, suggesting that Israel might use this information to justify attacks on medical facilities.

The European Union's foreign ministers have called for "immediate pauses in hostilities and the establishment of humanitarian corridors," and the release of remaining hostages in their joint statement on the conflict. Despite the EU's unified statement, member states are divided, with some nations advocating for a total cease-fire, while others argue that this could benefit Hamas and undermine Israel's right to self-defense.

The ground reality remains bleak, with Israeli strikes persistently targeting Gaza City, and health officials reporting thousands trapped in hospitals with no electricity and dwindling supplies. The war has displaced over two-thirds of Gaza's population, with more than 11,000 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and minors, killed since the conflict began.

The conflict continues with Israeli troops surrounding four hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, which is on the brink of collapse. The Ministry of Health in Gaza refers to the situation as a "war on hospitals," with the sick and wounded overflowing the corridors due to a lack of beds. As the conflict persists, the hope for peace remains elusive, with the reverberations of war echoing across the globe.