The war between the terrorist organization Hamas and Israel has already claimed many lives on both sides. The civilian population of Gaza now risks facing a difficult time.
– The humanitarian situation for the population was already quite critical. A large part of the population is already dependent on humanitarian aid, says Imene Trabelsi, International Red Cross Spokesperson for the Middle East and continues:
– The consequences of what is happening now are terrible. For the population, for the civilians. And that applies on both sides. Civilians on both sides, in Gaza, but also in Israel are the ones who have to pay the price for what is happening right now.
“Very worrying”
According to Imene Trabelsi, the humanitarian situation can be described as catastrophic.
– In Gaza, the prevailing situation and the humanitarian situation are very worrying.
The situation is also made more difficult by the fact that Hamas, branded as a terrorist, mixes with the civilian population in the extremely densely populated Gaza and has also taken Israelis as hostages.
TV4 News’ Middle East correspondent Terese Cristiansson says that the Israeli military has now conveyed that they will focus on senior Hamas leaders and that they are planning a ground offensive.
– I think it is expected that you do something on the ground and not just take on the conflict from the air, which is largely done now, says lieutenant colonel Anders Ekholm.
The situation is urgent
The International Red Cross spokesman for the Middle East emphasizes that this could mean great danger for civilians inside Gaza.
– The risk is that the civilian population will suffer even more. The risk is that this will become a nightmare for the civilian population and that the humanitarian organizations will not be able to cope with the scale of the humanitarian crisis that will arise as a result of this because the situation is already acute and very difficult to manage, says Imene Trabelsi.
She emphasizes that further escalation and increased violence will lead to even more innocent people taking their own lives.
– We receive reports and testimonies about families and children who have been directly affected by the ongoing violence. Unfortunately, even more human suffering is what we will see. Humanitarian aid cannot solve the situation. Only political measures can stop the violence.
The risks to the civilian population in the event of a ground offensive
Anders Ekholm, lieutenant colonel, believes that an Israeli offensive, however, faces great difficulties.
– I think that Hamas has tried to make the Israelis as angry as they can to ensure that they enter the settlement. Because in the settlement there the one who defends rules, he says and continues:
– The last thing you want to do is enter this type of environment. Not least for all the civilians who live here. I would argue that it is impossible in this environment. It is a paradox they face.
So long can Gaza survive
At the same time, the situation in Gaza worsens as Israel cuts off resources. TV4 News’ foreign affairs commentator Lisa Grenfors explains how long the population can manage without outside help.
– If you start from the data the UN has, it is a matter of days, not weeks, until the food runs out and the clean water runs out.
No one can get out of Gaza and the lack of supplies is acute. Israel decides when the blockades end. Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz wrote on Thursday on Platform X that they will not supply Gaza with water and electricity until the Israelis taken hostage are released.