The UN World Food Program (WFP) announced, it had launched emergency operations to provide food assistance to 800,000 residents living in the completely isolated Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Anadolu Agency reports.
It also demanded that humanitarian corridors be established to facilitate the entry of aid and humanitarian assistance into Gaza and made an appeal for the safe passage of personnel and essential goods.
![Palestinians mourn after 8 members of Shamlah family killed in Israeli airstrikes, as a funeral held in Gaza City, Gaza on 09 October 2023 [Mustafa Hassona - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/AA-20231009-32352162-32352151-DEATH_TOLL_OF_PALESTINIANS_KILLED_BY_ISRAELI_ARMY_IN_GAZA_RISES_TO_493_HEALTH_MINISTRY-scaled.jpg?fit=1114%2C800&ssl=1)
Officials from the United Nations World Food Program noted that $17.3 million is needed in the next four weeks to address the critical situation.
But, all borders and checkpoints between the West Bank and Gaza are closed, which is further exacerbating the crisis by preventing much-needed assistance from entering.
Hamas said the attack was in response to Israeli violations in the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Occupied East Jerusalem and increased settler violence.
Israel retaliated with a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip and imposed a total blockade on the territory, home to nearly 2.3 million people. Russia has called for a ceasefire and immediate peace talks, while stressing that the roots of the conflict must be understood.
At least 830 Palestinians were killed and 4,250 injured in the Israeli bombardment of the strip, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to use all of Israel’s strength to destroy Hamas’ capabilities and take revenge for this black day.
Supply cuts by Israel could leave the Gaza power plant without fuel within days and cause a severe shortage of drinking water for 610,000 people, the UN humanitarian agency warned.
On the decision to cut the water supply, Laerke said, that this decision affects over 610,000 people in Gaza and will result in a severe shortage of drinking water.
The World Health Organization (WHO), during the same briefing, called for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to provide necessary health services
Middle East Monitor / ABC Flash point News 2023.
According to the latest available data, the death toll from hostilities has risen to over 700 among Palestinians and roughly 1100 Israelis, with thousands of wounded from both sides.