According to UNRWA, thousands of residents in the Jabalya refugee camp are stranded without water as rescue teams have been denied access for the fifth consecutive day.
Water supplies at the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza ran out completely on Tuesday, as reported by the UN’s main agency in the region. Conditions for the thousands of residents trapped there have worsened due to an ongoing Israeli military operation.
“Jabalya is under siege,” UNRWA stated in a message to CNN, noting that limited information indicates families are stranded in their homes with dwindling water and food supplies.
The military operation in Jabalya and the surrounding area has been ongoing for over two weeks and has reportedly resulted in the deaths of more than 400 Palestinians, according to Gaza Civil Defense.
Concerns are rising for those trapped under rubble, with first responders blocked from reaching them. On Tuesday, Israeli authorities denied an “urgent request” from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to allow rescue teams access for the fifth day in a row.
“These delays are costing lives,” UNRWA added.
CNN has contacted COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for coordinating aid into Gaza, for a response.
The Palestinian Civil Defense reported that “dozens of bodies remain scattered in the streets of Jabalya,” with many more believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Blinken stresses to Gallant US “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security,” including to Iran’s missile attack
Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the US’s “ironclad commitment to Israel’s security” during a meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, particularly in light of Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack.
This meeting was part of Blinken’s discussions with Israeli officials during his visit, which precedes an anticipated Israeli response to the Iranian attack earlier this month.
According to a State Department summary, Blinken and Gallant talked about the importance of securing the release of all hostages and finding a resolution to the conflict in Gaza that promotes lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Blinken also emphasized the urgent need to enhance humanitarian assistance to Gaza, addressing severe food insecurity and basic needs. Last week, he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin sent a letter to the Israeli government urging action to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza within 30 days, warning that failure to do so could violate US laws governing foreign military assistance and jeopardize military aid.
Regarding Lebanon, Blinken expressed the US’s support for a diplomatic solution to the conflict along the Blue Line, in full accordance with United Nations Security Resolution 1701.
Blinken is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and will continue on to other countries in the region afterward, according to a senior administration official.
