A ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war is desperately needed to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip of Palestine, which is facing catastrophic conditions. The war has claimed thousands of Israeli and Palestinian lives since the Hamas militant group launched terror attacks in Israel on Oct. 7th. Israel responded by attacking neighboring Gaza, where Hamas is based.
Palestinian civilians in Gaza are being displaced from their homes and suffering from shortages of food, water, medicine and other basics as Israel continues its attack.
There must be a ceasefire to allow aid to reach all war victims. President Biden brokered an agreement between Egypt and Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. But these aid deliveries are nowhere near enough given the size of the emergency and the ongoing conflict.
“There needs to be a sustained halt to the violence. Aid cannot be distributed under the bombs. Time is not a luxury the people of Gaza have.” says Hiba Tibi, West Bank and Gaza Country Director for CARE.
A joint statement from UN relief agencies including the World Food Program and UNICEF says: “We call for a humanitarian ceasefire, along with immediate, unrestricted humanitarian access throughout Gaza to allow humanitarian actors to reach civilians in need, save lives and prevent further human suffering. Flows of humanitarian aid must be at scale and sustained, and allow all Gazans to preserve their dignity. “
Save the Children and other charities are also calling for a ceasefire immediately. A ceasefire is needed for humanitarian aid deliveries and to allow peace talks to end the conflict between Israel and Palestine. There must be the safe return of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7th terror attacks in Israel.
War is not the road to peace between Israel and Palestine. Decades of conflict have proven that. War always leads to more war. Only diplomacy, backed by robust humanitarian aid, can lead to peace between Israel and Palestine.
The United States must lead efforts to get the ceasefire and to increase the humanitarian aid.
Hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed with casualties. The war is also leading to a hunger crisis. The UN World Food Program (WFP) needs access as well as increased funding. The WFP has been short on funds for its relief operation in Palestine all year, even being forced to cut rations in Gaza this summer. Now as the war erupts, food shortages are worsening.
WFP states in its latest Palestine report, “As needs are soaring, WFP is revising its needs upwards and estimates that it will require at least USD 100 million for the next 90 days to sustain its emergency response to over 1 million affected people at pace and scale.”
War always leads to hunger. Right now a ceasefire is needed to save civilians from bombs and starvation.
Everyone can be advocate for a ceasefire to save Gaza. Write to President Biden urging diplomacy to get the ceasefire and peace talks started. You can support humanitarian relief agencies by donating and encouraging Congress to increase funding for food and other humanitarian aid.
We must break the vicious cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine. Diplomacy, backed with humanitarian aid for everyone in need, is the only road to peace in the Middle East.
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger.
