As Israeli forces expand ground operations in an effort to control all of Gaza, aid organisations say hundreds of people have been killed and nearly 100,000 displaced in the past few days alone.
With only a small number of aid trucks being allowed into the region, people are living in a ‘hellish’ world of starvation, bombing and bloodshed.
Israel’s ramping up of attacks and blocking aid amid dire warnings about famine has seen pressure mount against it from some of its closest allies.
The latest blockade on food and humanitarian supplies into Gaza has gone on for almost three months, with one woman telling ActionAid that she and her children had to survive on a single loaf of bread for three days.
She also reported knowing of three pregnant women who have miscarried in the last few days, likely due to the lack of food.
This week, the UK paused free trade negotiations with Israel and also announced new sanctions on extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
These measures include financial restrictions and travel bans on individuals including Daniella Weiss, nicknamed the ‘godmother’ of the extremist settler movement.
It follows a surge in settler violence in the West Bank, with the UN recording over 1,800 attacks by settlers against Palestinian communities.
UK’s foreign secretary David Lammy says the attackers should be held accountable.
“The Israeli government has a responsibility to intervene and halt these aggressive actions,” he said.
“Their consistent failure to act is putting Palestinian communities and the two-state solution in peril.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says they are “horrified by the escalation from Israel” and is continuing to push for a ceasefire and increased aid into the warzone.
“This war has gone on for far too long … we cannot allow the people of Gaza to starve,” he said.
Non-profit ActionAid says its colleagues and partners in Gaza have described life there as “hell on earth”.
It says staff at partner organisation Wefaq, which supports women and children, has been forced to evacuate their office and homes in Deir Al-Balah, a city on the Gaza strip that has been attacked incessantly.
With nearly 80 per cent of the territory under evacuation orders, ActionAid says there is nowhere safe for them to go.
ActionAid’s emergency response manager in Gaza, Alaa, says people are fleeing with just the clothes on their backs, while hungry and exhausted.
“Gaza is hell on the earth,” he said.
“We live under non-stop bombing along with starvation.
“The situation is beyond impossible.”
The UK, France and Canada have jointly condemned the actions of Israel.
Earlier this week, Penny Wong was also listed in a multilateral statement calling for the full resumption of aid into Gaza.
“As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity,” the letter states.
“We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference.
“It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region.
The joint statement was made by two dozen nations including the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan and France. Meanwhile, the attacks on Gaza continue and people on the ground are left waiting for an end to their suffering.
Image: ActionAid.