About 2.3 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area on which Israel has imposed a strict blockade since 2007.
The crossing into Egypt from Rafah is not completely closed, the BBC’s Gaza correspondent reports, but only 400 people a day are allowed in and out – with a very long waiting list.
Routes out of Gaza for ordinary people have not been easy, especially since Israel began its retaliation.
The only options for civilians are schools run by the UN, which says these makeshift shelters are already 90% full and cannot accommodate many more people.
So it is very difficult for people to leave. Some will choose to go into the basement of their home, but then become trapped if the building falls.
People are calling the local media and appealing for help. About 30 families were trapped in a basement last night.
There are very limited options for citizens.
Total blockade of Gaza
After Saturday’s attack by Hamas, Israel has escalated measures against the Gaza Strip, imposing a “total blockade” under which food and fuel imports are banned. Palestinian civilians no longer have access to water, food, electricity and fuel.
About 2.3 million Palestinians live in poverty in the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area on which Israel has imposed a strict blockade since 2007.
Spain and France disagree with the aid cut
Meanwhile, Spain’s Acting Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez said today that his government opposes a proposed cut in European Union aid to the Palestinian territories, while the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs he also announced that France does not support the cessation of aid given directly to the Palestinian people.
“This cooperation must continue, we cannot confuse Hamas, which is on the EU’s list of terrorist organizations, with the Palestinian population or with the Palestinian Authority or with the United Nations organizations in the field,” Albares said in an interview of the Spanish radio station Cadena SER.
He added that the Palestinian territories will likely need more aid in the near future following Saturday’s attack on Israel by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Foreign ministers will meet to discuss the matter this afternoon.
Moreover, in Paris, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that France does not support the cessation of the aid that the Palestinians receive directly.
“We are not in favor of suspending the aid received directly by the Palestinian people and yesterday we made this clear to the European Commission,” the French ministry said in a statement.
Source :Skai
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