2024 brought devastation to Gaza with 23,842 deaths and mass displacement. Israel’s actions, including sieges and bombings, drew genocide claims, while freezing temperatures worsen the humanitarian crisis.
The year 2024 has been devastating for Gaza, with relentless war, displacement, and escalating humanitarian crises. Over 23,842 people have died and 51,925 have been injured this year alone, driving the total casualties since the conflict began to 46,376 deaths. The Israeli military’s tactics, including sieges and bombardments, have drawn accusations of genocide from rights groups and the United Nations. As Gaza enters 2025, its 2.3 million residents face dire conditions, with little hope for relief amid continued conflict.
Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza
Widespread Destruction and Displacement
- Gaza’s infrastructure is in ruins, with 34 hospitals rendered nonfunctional and 80 health centers shut down, according to the Gaza Government Media Office.
- Israeli forces stormed and destroyed the last major hospital in northern Gaza, leaving millions without critical medical care.
- Torrential rain and freezing temperatures have exacerbated the suffering, with tent villages failing to provide adequate shelter. Rising hypothermia deaths underline the severity of the crisis.
Personal Accounts of Suffering
- Eman Shaghnoubi, a mother of eight, described her family’s struggles in the cold: “My children sleep on soaked bedding at night. We move from one humiliation to another.”
- Shereen Abu Nida, left to care for her children alone after her husband was abducted by Israeli forces, said: “This has been the worst year of my life. Nobody in the world has lived through what we are enduring.”
- Musa Ali Muhammad al-Maghribi, struggling to care for his nine children, expressed despair: “[Israel] has destroyed us. Every day, we just hope to die.”
Israel’s Actions and Global Criticism
Tactics and Accusations
- The Israeli military has employed siege-and-starve strategies and targeted so-called safe zones, violating international law.
- Rights groups argue that these actions meet the definition of genocide under the UN Genocide Convention, as they aim to destroy a population “in whole or in part.”
International Reaction
- In January 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to prevent acts that could constitute genocide. However, this has had little impact on the ground.
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Prolonging the War
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been accused of exploiting the war to deflect attention from his corruption trial, where he faces charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust.
- Critics, including members of his own cabinet, claim Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to distract from allegations of incompetence during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which killed 1,139 Israelis.
Aid Blockade and UNRWA Ban
- Israel has blocked the UN’s Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a critical lifeline for Gaza, from operating. The ban, set to take effect in January 2025, threatens food distribution, medical aid, and basic infrastructure.
- In December, the UN General Assembly voted to support UNRWA’s operations and called for an immediate ceasefire, but Israeli strikes have continued.
The Year Ahead
As Gaza prepares to enter 2025, the hope for peace remains distant. Efforts to mediate a ceasefire have faltered, leaving millions of Palestinians to endure worsening conditions. For residents like Abu Nida, the coming year is fraught with uncertainty and despair: “We just want this war to end.”
Source: Al Jazeera
