The Situation Since Israel was violently attacked across the border from Gaza on October 7 and the ongoing hostilities escalated, tens of thousands of people have been reported killed or injured in Gaza and Israel, and the toll continues to rise with nearly 1.9 million people displaced in Gaza – nearly 80 percent of the the population. Some shelters for internally displaced persons are accommodating far more people than their intended capacity, increasing concerns about the spread of disease. Nearly 300 health workers and more than 130 staff of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East have been killed. Eight weeks into the crisis, a humanitarian pause which began on November 24 led to a release of some of the more than 200 people held hostage and the release of a number of Palestinian detainees. In Israel, hundreds of thousands of people residing near the Gaza Strip, as well as along the border with Lebanon, have either fled or been evacuated. For the latest update on the situation, read the most recent report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The escalation has created a major humanitarian crisis with health and other essential services including power and sanitation shutting down and food and water supplies nearly exhausted. The health care system in Gaza remains near collapse with hospitals and health centers damaged and running out of fuel and supplies, severely limiting their capacity to treat the sick and injured. More than half of the hospitals in Gaza were not operating, according to the World Health Organization. The humanitarian pause from Nov. 24-30 allowed for an increase in aid trucks granted access to Gaza. Despite the increase in supplies entering Gaza, the volume of incoming aid did not meet the extensive needs. We call on all parties to protect civilians. Hospitals should not be targeted, civilians should have access to safe spaces away from the fighting and the humanitarian corridor should be expanded to allow more food, medicine, and other essentials to enter Gaza. The Crisis Deepens and the need is great. Please Donate Now.