Ordeal of Gazans persists as conflict continues unabated

Rana al-Najjar and her family watched in dismay as their hard-earned four-story house in Gaza was reduced to rubble during an Israeli attack, reported Xinhua.

In densely populated Gaza, where land is scarce, many residents are forced to construct additional floors on their existing houses as their families grow. For al-Najjar's family, the four-story home was their sole sanctuary.

"I have no ties to any military activities against Israel, and I can't understand why Israel is holding us accountable," al-Najjar, a mother of six, lamented, saying that "we've lost family members, homes, and our way of life. We're exhausted and can't endure anymore."

For three weeks, Israel has launched massive airstrikes and limited ground operations against Gaza in retaliation for a surprise attack by Gaza-ruling Hamas militants on Israeli military targets and towns on Oct. 7, which, so far, has killed at least 1,400 people in Israel.

The death toll of Palestinians from Israeli military strikes on Gaza has risen to 7,326, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Friday, adding another 18,967 Palestinians have been injured.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) said on Thursday that approximately 96 percent of Gazans have been plunged into poverty due to the ongoing conflict, compared to a 45-percent poverty rate in 2017-2018.

"In just three weeks, the airstrikes have decimated our life in Gaza," Khader Bashir, another resident in the Palestinian enclave, said, stressing that Israel's quest to dismantle Hamas has led to the destruction of all of Gaza, affecting innocent civilians.

"We're defenseless civilians caught in this deadly conflict," said the father of three, adding that being caught in such a conflict equates to a death sentence without a set date.

Both al-Najjar and Bashir yearn for a humanitarian cease-fire to enable them to assess the damage to their homes and chart a path forward amid the tragic circumstances.

Notwithstanding the complex situation in Gaza, reports suggest that Qatar and Egypt are mediating between Hamas and Israel to broker a prisoner exchange deal, which could pave the way for a cease-fire.

Israeli media outlets indicate that Israel has signaled its readiness to consider a substantial prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, who in return is seeking an increase in humanitarian aid, fuel deliveries to Gaza, the release of Palestinian detainees, and a truce to solidify the exchange arrangement.

However, with Israel gearing up for a significant ground offensive against Gaza and the escalating hostilities resulting in rising casualties, the hope for a Gaza truce is again dwindling.

"Even if a cease-fire is agreed and humanitarian aid is allowed to enter Gaza, poverty and deprivation will affect a significant share of the population for years to come," ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti said in a statement.

The international community now has a compelling responsibility to ensure the flow of sufficient amounts of critical humanitarian aid to Gaza, she noted.

The UN official also called for the design and enactment of a recovery and sustainable development plan for Gaza beyond the immediate humanitarian needs, in line with a peace process that addresses the root causes of the recurring conflicts.