World Food Program: Gaza food stocks are completely depleted

The United Nations (UN) World Food Program (WFP) announced that food stocks in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has imposed a tight blockade by closing border crossings, are completely depleted and the last supplies are being delivered to kitchens where hot meals are cooked.

In a written statement from WFP, it was noted that kitchens in Gaza meet 25 percent of the daily food needs of Palestinians.

The statement said that food stocks in Gaza have been depleted and the last stocks were delivered to the kitchens in the region, which are expected to be depleted in the coming days.

"On March 31, all 25 WFP-supported bakeries in Gaza closed due to a shortage of wheat flour and cooking fuel," the statement said, adding that WFP also supports bakeries to distribute bread in Gaza. The statement said.

The statement emphasized that humanitarian aid has not entered Gaza for more than 7 weeks due to the closure of border crossing points and warned, "This is the longest closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced, worsening already fragile markets and food systems."

More than 116,000 metric tons of food aid, enough to feed one million people for four months, is ready to be brought to Gaza as soon as the borders open, the statement said, adding, "Without urgent action to open the borders to aid and trade, WFP's critical assistance may have to end."

The statement called on the parties to "prioritize the needs of civilians, immediately allow aid to enter Gaza and fulfill their obligations under international humanitarian law."

Gaza government calls for "urgent humanitarian corridor"

In a written statement issued by the Media Office of the Palestinian government in Gaza, Israel and its supporters were accused of committing "the crime of genocide documented in audio and video".

The statement said that Israel's 55-day total blockade and closure of crossings has led to the spread of famine and the rapid deepening of a humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the lives of more than 2.4 million people.

"Famine in Gaza is no longer a threat, it has become a painful reality. The 55-day Israeli blockade has resulted in the deaths of 52 Palestinians, including 50 children, due to starvation and malnutrition. This is one of the most horrific methods of slow killing."

It was also reported that more than 60,000 children suffer from severe malnutrition, while more than 1 million children struggle with daily hunger, leaving them weak and physically impaired.

The statement noted that thousands of Palestinian families are unable to provide even a single meal for their children and are starving to death.

"Last call before disaster strikes"

"This is the last call before disaster strikes. Any form of delay would be a clear complicity and an indelible shame for humanity."

The Gaza government demanded the immediate and immediate opening of a safe humanitarian corridor to save the lives of more than 2.4 million Palestinians.

The statement also called for the establishment of independent international commissions to investigate the "crimes of starvation and slow killing" by Israel in Gaza.

Osama, a 5-year-old Palestinian who starves in Gaza, where Israel has closed borders, is on the brink of death

On the other hand, in the footage shared by Al-Quds News Network's X account, it is seen that Osama Rakab, 5-year-old Osama Rakab, who cannot get enough nutrition due to the lack of aid inflow, is counting his bones due to extreme weakness in Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis city.

Osama's mother Menal Rakab said her son suffers from malnutrition and malabsorption due to food shortages caused by Israel's closure of border crossings.

Pointing out that her son's health was previously very good and his weight was at the level it should have been, the Palestinian mother said, "Osama dropped to 9 kilograms when he should have been 14 to 16."

Stating that the border gates have been closed for two months and they have not received any aid, the grieving mother said that Osama needs eggs and meat on a daily basis, but eggs cost 3 dollars and meat costs around 120 to 150 dollars per kilo.

"The prices are very high and I can't afford to buy Osama what he needs," said Rakab, a Palestinian mother whose son came close to death.

Dr. Ahmed Abdulhalık al-Ferra stated that malnutrition will cause a whole generation in Gaza to have trouble focusing and will negatively affect their mental faculties.

Pointing out that children in Gaza have chronically low blood levels and vitamin deficiencies due to malnutrition, Dr. Ferra said:

"We know that a child's brain is shaped in the first 3 years. If the child is deprived of basic foods in the first 3 years, permanent damage occurs in the brain structure of the child. Even if these basic foods are accessed later, there is no change."

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens every day

Israel has decided to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as of March 2, following the end of the 42-day first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement with Hamas.

Since October 7, 2023, Israeli military attacks have displaced nearly 2 million people in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 2.3 million.

Israel also targeted civilian infrastructure and hospitals, causing a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The cut-off of water and electricity supplies and the closure of border crossings exacerbate the difficult conditions for Palestinians in Gaza.

On the morning of March 18, the Israeli army resumed its violent attacks in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire that went into effect on January 19.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has risen to 51,355 and the number of wounded to 117,248.

Israeli MP: "Starving and deporting Gazans is our duty"

In a program on Israel's Channel 14 television, the far-right Saada commented on the situation in Gaza, where the Tel Aviv administration has not allowed humanitarian aid to enter since March 2.

"Our mission is to expel Gazans," Saada said, claiming that 10 countries are willing to accept Palestinians living in Gaza.

When the presenter reminded him of his words, Saada said, "Yes, I will starve the residents of Gaza, yes, absolutely. This is our duty. I want to starve the residents of Gaza, I want to impose a complete siege."

Asked if he was worried about facing international criticism for his promises to starve and deport Gazans, Saada said, "No, that's boring. We have to deal with the Jews now."

Israel has been blocking aid to Gaza for 54 days

The Israeli administration halted humanitarian aid inflows to the Gaza Strip on March 2 following the end of the first phase of the ceasefire and prisoner swap agreement reached in the Gaza Strip, where approximately 2.3 million Palestinians live.

Since then, not even a single parcel of humanitarian aid has been allowed to enter Gaza for 54 days. Due to the denial of aid, Gaza, which is under Israeli attacks, is experiencing shortages of food, medicine, water as well as fuel.

The Israeli cabinet has reportedly decided to maintain the humanitarian embargo on Gaza

Israeli state television KAN reported that Israel agreed to lift the humanitarian embargo on the Gaza Strip only "after it was guaranteed that it would not reach Hamas".

Since March 2, Israel has not allowed any humanitarian aid, fuel or medicine to enter the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million Palestinians are struggling with genocide.

The United Nations (UN) warns that Israel is blocking all aid supplies into Gaza and warns that the impact on the people of Gaza is dire.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), for its part, said that the impact of the spread of hunger in Gaza on children was "dramatic".

Harsh words from Justice Minister Levin to Chief of Staff Zamir

Justice Minister Yariv Levin of the government led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly lashed out at Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir during last night's cabinet meeting.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin lashed out at Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir for opposing the idea of the Israeli army taking part in the distribution of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip if the embargo is lifted, KAN reports.

Accusing Zamir of disobeying decisions, Minister Levin said, "You cannot tell us, 'You will make the decisions, you will make the decisions,' and then when the decisions are made, you cannot say, 'We will not fulfill this task.

At Tuesday's Security Cabinet meeting, far-right Minister Betzalel Smotrich, angered by the argument between Zamir and Katz, rebuked the chief of staff.

Smotrich leaves the cabinet meeting again in protest against Bar

Minister Smotrich, a far-right extremist, reportedly left yesterday's cabinet meeting in protest when Ronen Bar, the director of the domestic intelligence agency Shin-Bet, was speaking, as he had done at the Security Cabinet meeting.

Maariv newspaper reported that at the Security Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Betzalel Smotrich left the room when Bar began to speak, provoking Zamir with harsh words.

WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus: "We have reached a terrible and desperate moment in Gaza"

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), reported that a terrible and desperate moment has been reached in Gaza, where Israel has maintained a humanitarian embargo for nearly 2 months.

Ghebreyesus posted on X about the situation in Gaza.

"We have reached a terrible and desperate moment in Gaza," Ghebreyesus said, noting that the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) is running out of resources in the Gaza Strip and that although there is enough food in the aid corridors to feed one million people, it is not reaching those in need.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "The situation is the same for medical supplies, they are running out. 16 WHO trucks are waiting to enter Gaza."

Since March 2, Israel has not allowed any humanitarian aid, fuel or medicine to enter Gaza, where more than 2 million Palestinians struggle to survive.

Breaking the ceasefire, the Israeli army resumed violent attacks on Gaza

On the morning of March 18, the Israeli army resumed its violent attacks in the Gaza Strip following the ceasefire that went into effect on January 19.

Since the Israeli army resumed the attacks, 2,62 Palestinians, mostly elderly, women and children, have lost their lives and 5,375 people have been injured.

The number of Palestinians killed in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 has increased to 51,439 and the number of wounded to 117,416.

Breaking the ceasefire, Israel announced that it would act with "increasing military force" against Hamas for rejecting new ceasefire proposals.

Hamas, on the other hand, declared that "Israel has failed to fulfill its promises and has resumed the genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip by failing to fulfill its responsibilities in the eyes of the ceasefire mediators."

It was noteworthy that Israel launched the attacks on Gaza in the shadow of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's controversial political steps, such as the dismissal of the Director of Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence organization.