Oxfam is helping vulnerable communities in the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel and Lebanon to deal with the consequences of the ongoing conflicts, with continued violence being perpetrated by both sides against civilians.
The suspension of aid, Israeli blockades and factional fighting has led to immense suffering in the occupied Palestinian territories. Up to 79 per cent of the population of Gaza and 49 per cent of the West Bank are living in poverty, basic services are facing collapse and malnutrition among children is on the rise. Israeli civilians are still subject to indiscriminate rocket attacks.
Recent fighting has forced us to suspend much of our work in Gaza, which was reaching 65,000 people. We have been working with partners in the occupied Palestinian territories to provide basic health services, water and food assistance to the most vulnerable families.
Oxfam is calling for a binding UN Security Council resolution to demand an immediate halt to violence in Gaza and Israel by all parties; all parties to commit to an immediate, comprehensive and permanent truce; Israel, Hamas and other parties to permit immediate and unhindered access to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, and for people, thereby ending the blockade.
We are also calling on the European Union to suspend the EU-Israel upgrade process until there is a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, and Israel to provide unimpeded humanitarian access.
"My neighbor had a call warning them to leave their home because a nearby building was being targeted. Their house is 60 meters away from mine..."– Oxfam's Mohammed Ali writes from Gaza City.
