Tensions flare in Gaza over dwindling supplies as drones hit ship carrying aid
Humanitarian response on verge of 'total collapse,' groups say, as Gaza blockade marks 2 months
Fights are erupting over dwindling supplies inside Gaza as drones reportedly attacked a vessel carrying aid into the territory on Friday, marking exactly two months since Israel imposed a total blockade on supplies into the enclave.
Since March 2, Israel has completely cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip, and food stockpiled during a ceasefire at the start of the year has all but run out.
It is the longest such closure the Gaza Strip has ever faced. Palestinian residents and aid officials said at least five incidents of looting took place across the enclave on Wednesday.
Olga Cherevko, an aid worker with the United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) in Gaza City, said that inter-communal violence over supplies had intensified.
She told reporters she witnessed one such fight on Friday.
"Supplies are becoming depleted while the war rages on. Food stocks have now mainly run out," she told a press conference in Geneva via video link.
"Water access has become impossible. In fact, as I speak to you, just below, downstairs from this building, people are fighting for water. There's a water truck that has just arrived, and people are killing each other over water."
Some aid groups say they have already run out of food stocks in the past week and community kitchens are at risk of closure. The Red Cross said the humanitarian response in Gaza was on the verge of "total collapse."
Israel has previously denied that Gaza is facing a hunger crisis and says there is still enough aid to sustain the population.
Cherevko said hungry people were scavenging in mounds of waste for "anything that would help them survive."
"I am seeing children and I'm seeing elderly people rummaging through these piles of trash, not only in search of things to burn, but also things to eat daily," she said.
Drones strike aid ship bound for Gaza
A ship bound for Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and activists was bombed by drones in international waters off Malta early on Friday, its organizers said, alleging that Israel was to blame.
The Israeli foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment on the allegation by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international non-governmental group.
The Maltese government said the vessel and its crew were secured in the early hours of the morning after a nearby tug assisted with firefighting operations.
Turkey's foreign ministry said Turkish nationals were on board at the time of the incident and it was working with Maltese authorities to transfer them to a safe location.
"We condemn in the strongest terms this attack on a civilian ship," it said, noting that there were "allegations that the ship was targeted by Israeli drones."
"All necessary efforts will be made to reveal the details of the attack as soon as possible and to bring the perpetrators to justice," it said.
NGO calls on Israel to answer to humanitarian violations
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg told Reuters she was in Malta and was supposed to board the ship as part of the Freedom Flotilla's planned action in support of Gaza, which is under blockade and bombardment by Israel.
Israel says the blockade is an attempt to pressure the militant group to release hostages it took during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the conflict. Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel that day, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Hamas is still holding 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched an offensive that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians. Israel's bombardment and ground operations have destroyed vast areas of the territory and left most of its population homeless.
The NGO published video footage, filmed in darkness, showing a fire on one of its ships, the Conscience. The footage showed lights in the sky in front of the ship and the sound of explosions could be heard.
"Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade [of Gaza] and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters," it said.
The Maltese government said maritime authorities had received a mayday call shortly after midnight local time from a vessel outside of territorial waters, with 12 crew members and four civilians on board, reporting a fire.
It said a nearby tug headed to the scene and launched firefighting operations, and a Maltese patrol vessel was dispatched. After several hours, the vessel and its crew were secure, it said, adding that crew had refused to board the tug.
With files from CBC News