Global bodies call for aid to get through to Gaza

International and humanitarian organizations are calling for "immediate unconditional access" for critical aid to Gaza to deter a rapidly escalating crisis, with the number of displaced people now estimated to have exceeded 1 million — 10 days into the Palestine-Israel conflict.

The appeal from the United Nations came as clean water, food and other vital supplies are reportedly running out, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that these should not be used as "bargaining chips".

The World Health Organization said that lifesaving assistance, including health supplies for 300,000 patients, was awaiting entry into Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, The Associated Press reported.

Guterres also urged the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, to release its hostages amid a looming Israeli ground incursion.

Around half of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have so far evacuated their homes, and AP reported that the Israeli military had ordered people living in 28 communities near the Lebanese border to evacuate on Monday.

Talk of opening the Rafah border, which Egypt shares with Gaza, has been rife in Western and Middle Eastern media circles.

On Monday, Al-Jazeera reported that both Israel and Hamas denied there was any cease-fire in southern Gaza. This followed a Reuters report that said two Egyptian security sources had told the news agency that a cease-fire in southern Gaza lasting several hours had been agreed to on Monday morning to facilitate aid and evacuations at Rafah.

The Egypt State Information Service published an article on Sunday saying the Rafah border crossing was open, "but became inoperable after Israel bombed it", citing its Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's interview with CNN.

The death toll on both sides has exceeded 4,000, with over 14,000 injured and more than 1,000 missing.

Amid the mass evacuations taking place at short notice in Gaza, appeals to de-escalate the situation continue to increase.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, said the agency was "on the verge of collapse" and was no longer able to provide humanitarian assistance. The UN agency is seeking $104 million in funds for lifesaving aid to Gaza.

China is providing emergency humanitarian aid to the UN agency and the Palestinian Authority, China Central Television said on Monday. The aid is to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza and to address urgent needs, such as food and medical care, CCTV quoted the China International Development Cooperation Agency as saying.

On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates announced its support for the UN agency's humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip with a new contribution of $20 million.

Israel's planned ground operation in Gaza has raised concerns in the international community.

The Arab League and the African Union said in a joint statement on Sunday that it could "lead to a genocide of unprecedented proportions", the Arab News and various media reported.

Iran has warned Israel of a regional escalation if the Israeli military enters Gaza for a ground operation as the conflict drags on, Al-Jazeera reported.

US President Joe Biden, who declared support for Israel after Hamas' attack on Oct 7, warned in an interview with CBS News on Sunday that any move by Israel to occupy the Gaza Strip again "would be a big mistake", but added that going in to take Hamas militants out "was a necessary requirement".

jan@chinadailyapac.com