Gaza Herald – Civil society organizations in Gaza warned of a rapidly worsening humanitarian situation as border crossings remain closed and vital aid is blocked, placing thousands of patients and wounded civilians at imminent risk. The head of the Palestinian NGOs Network, Amjad Al-Shawa, said the crisis is deepening across all sectors of life in the enclave.
Al-Shawa stated that at least 18,500 patients and wounded individuals urgently require medical evacuation outside Gaza, while the local health system is nearing total collapse due to sustained bombardment and severe shortages of medicines, equipment, and fuel.
He stressed that approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s population now depends entirely on humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs, calling on US Middle East envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to apply immediate pressure on Israel to reopen crossings and allow unrestricted aid entry.
According to Al-Shawa, harsh living conditions, lack of shelter, and the absence of heating have led to a surge in illnesses among children, particularly those linked to cold exposure and malnutrition, with several deaths recorded in recent weeks.
On the ground, he warned that Israeli forces have expanded their military presence inside Gaza, crossing the so-called “yellow line” and increasing areas under control from roughly 53 percent before the ceasefire to more than 60 percent, in violation of existing arrangements.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization and Doctors Without Borders, have echoed these concerns, reporting that Gaza’s health system is operating at less than 30 percent capacity and warning that continued restrictions risk triggering a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe for the enclave’s 2.4 million residents.
