Oxfam is warning that Israel’s planned total siege on Gaza will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe for an “already vulnerable population.”

The famine relief organisation, founded in Oxford in 1942, claims that the Israeli government’s plans will stop all food, water, electricity and fuel from reaching the people of Gaza.

Adding that the siege will worsen the ongoing blockade on Gaza, which has endured for 16 years.

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The charity has suspended all of its humanitarian and development work in the territory due to the ongoing airstrikes and violence.

Mustafa Tamaizeh, Oxfam acting country director in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel said: “Oxfam is horrified by the recent attacks. Violence never paves the way for peace. The international community must use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to secure an immediate ceasefire.

“The decision to implement a ‘total siege’ by the Israeli government, in addition to the ongoing blockade, will further deny Gazan civilians essentials like food, water and electricity.

“This constitutes collective punishment of a population that bears no responsibility for the violence and is illegal under international law.

“It will not contribute to peace and security, instead, it will further fan the flames of this crisis.”

The UN has reported there are over 180,000 people currently displaced within Gaza; 135,000 of those are taking refuge in already crowded UN relief agency schools.

Families are facing dire shortages of food, water and sanitation facilities, many are trapped in their homes, with nowhere to flee.

Gaza’s sole power plant, crucial for running essential services such as water and sanitation, was already operating for just four hours a day before the escalation of hostilities.

Without fuel, it is on the brink of complete shutdown, which will have dire consequences for hospitals and healthcare facilities that rely heavily on generators for vital medical equipment such as life-support systems.

Damage from airstrikes has disrupted services to already scarce water and sanitation facilities for over 400,000 people.  The wastewater treatment plant in northern Gaza has stopped, leading to the discharge of raw sewage into the sea.

Mr Tamaizeh said: “It is long past time to break the cycle of war followed by temporary truces and pledges of humanitarian aid, which are only sticking plasters.

“Instead, the international community must now finally tackle the root causes of injustice and violence that is being perpetrated under the occupation.”

The name “Oxfam” comes from the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief, founded in Britain in 1942.

The group campaigned for food supplies to be sent through an allied naval blockade to starving women and children in enemy-occupied Greece during the Second World War.

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1