Gaza’s government urgently appealed to Arab leaders at the Baghdad summit, demanding immediate action to end Israel’s crippling siege and halt its ongoing military offensive, which they describe as a “genocide.”
The Gaza Government Media Office implored heads of state to take “concrete, courageous steps” to lift the “unjust blockade” and stop the daily killings and mass atrocities committed by Israel over the past 19 months.
Their statement specifically called for the “unconditional opening of all border crossings” to ensure the guaranteed delivery of essential food, medical supplies, and vital humanitarian aid to Gaza’s over two million trapped residents, denouncing the situation as a “calculated strategy of famine and deprivation,” not merely a logistical issue.
The 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad, centered on “Dialogue, Solidarity, and Development,” has placed the Palestinian issue as a primary focus of its discussions.
Separately, the Al-Awda Health and Community Association in Gaza issued a stark warning that its medical and social services face imminent collapse due to the relentless Israeli blockade, which has prevented crucial medical supplies from entering since March 2nd.
Director Raafat Al-Majdalawi reported that seven of their nine ambulances are already unusable due to a complete lack of fuel.
He emphasized that their services are “on the brink of total shutdown” as they have received no medical supplies for over 70 days, with existing services already operating at severely reduced capacity.
The association urgently called upon international and Arab organizations to facilitate the immediate delivery of essential medical supplies and fuel.
They also stressed the critical need for the legal protection of all health facilities under international law, asserting that hospitals must be safeguarded during armed conflict.
The Gaza Health Ministry further reported an escalation in Israeli attacks on hospitals recently, including strikes on the European Hospital in southern Gaza, which has now been forced to cease operations.
Since the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, over 53,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its military actions in the Gaza Strip.
