UK charity slams Israel for using starvation as weapon in Gaza

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) – Accusing Israel of “collectively punishing” over 2 million civilians in Gaza, the UK-based charity Oxfam said Friday that using starvation as a weapon of war is "inexcusable."

"The call for urgent aid and a #CeasefireNOW is imperative," Oxfam said on X.

More than 2 million civilians in the Gaza Strip are being collectively punished for the world to see, it noted, criticizing Israel for using starvation as a weapon of war.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Wednesday, Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam’s regional Middle East director, said: "The situation is nothing short of horrific - where is humanity ... World leaders cannot continue to sit back and watch, they have an obligation to act and to act now."

Saying that every day the situation worsens in Gaza, she stressed that children are experiencing "severe trauma" from the constant bombardment.

Only 2% of the usual food has reached Gaza since the siege began on Oct. 9, according to Oxfam.

The conflict in Gaza began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood – a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct. 7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Over 8,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 7,326 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.