Duaa Abu Sabha is dressing her child in clothes inside her tent in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis Governorate. (Photo: Alef Multimedia/Oxfam)
What does Oxfam do in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel (OPTI)?
Oxfam has been working in OPTI since the 1950s, with a country office established in the 1980s. Working with Israeli and Palestinian partner organizations, Oxfam aims to improve the lives of poor and marginalized Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Our work focuses on agricultural development, emergency and primary health, education, protection of civilians, and the rights of women. For example, we support cooperatives of women olive producers to improve the quality of their oil and reach wider markets. We also work with human rights organizations to advocate for civil and political rights and an end to the policies that cause poverty and injustice.
A Palestinian man from Gaza standing in front of his destroyed house in Al Remal area in Gaza. The destruction was caused by the Israeli Airstrikes during the escalation that started Saturday, Oct 8, 2023. (Photo: Marwan Sawwaf/Alef Multimedia/Oxfam)
What is happening in the Israel-Palestine conflict?
Israel is inflicting mass death, forcible displacement, starvation and deprivation upon more than two million people, and reducing Gaza to rubble. Palestinians in Gaza are being repeatedly displaced into so-called ‘safe zones’ - but it’s clear that nowhere is safe.
Conditions across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the West Bank, continue to deteriorate at an alarming rate. Every week, the death toll in the West Bank rises as ‘incursions’ by the Israeli military and attacks by Israeli settlers increase, resulting in injuries, deaths and the forced displacement of Palestinians. Critical infrastructure is being deliberately destroyed along with hundreds of homes, while thousands of Palestinians have been arbitrarily detained. Palestinians living in the West Bank face daily harassment, humiliations and the denial of their basic rights, which are being trampled by the Israeli military.
Civilians on all sides continue to pay the price for the failure of their leaders to resolve a conflict that has led to the longest occupation in modern history. This latest and most horrific escalation of violence will not achieve security for Israelis and Palestinians, but instead pushes that goal further away.
Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced, multiple times, under the gravest hostilities imaginable. The Israeli military forced Palestinians from the north into southern Gaza, and into ever smaller so-called ‘safezones’ – although it’s clear that nowhere in Gaza is safe.
Gaza’s healthcare system is in ruins, with health care centres and ambulances destroyed, and most major hospital’s unable to operate. Full electricity black-out has been experienced since Oct 11 and telecommunications and internet coverage is unreliable and intermittent.
Israel has closed most of the access points into Gaza, slowing the flow of aid to millions of people in need to a trickle. Gaza’s water and sanitation systems are shattered. All across Gaza, people have extremely limited access to clean water and there are grave concerns of dehydration and waterborne diseases. Desalination plants are mostly unable to function due to a lack of fuel and the Israeli pipeline supplying water to the north is not functioning.
The food situation is catastrophic, particularly in the north where children are starving to death and famine is now imminent. Where food is available, prices are skyrocketing so it’s unaffordable for people who have extremely limited access to cash. Children are going entire days without eating.
People are lacking the basics needed to survive. They desperately need food, water, sanitation, and appropriate shelter. Farmers need fodder for their livestock. People need protection and psychological support. They need medicine and healthcare.
Replica Mark 84 2,000-pound bomb placed opposite the UK Parliament. Flowers laid alongside represent numbers of people estimated that will be killed during the UK Parliament recess and the Israeli hostages still in captivity on the 30th of July 2024. (Photo: Andy Aitchison/Oxfam)
What is Oxfam's position on the conflict?
We condemn all attacks, violence and targeting of Palestinian and Israeli civilians. The violence against Israeli civilians was abhorrent and the escalating violence against civilians in Gaza and the West Bank is without precedent. Attacks that deliberately target civilians are never justifiable. All parties must respect international humanitarian law and cease their attacks. The cycle of violence must end.
A permanent ceasefire is the most important humanitarian intervention that Gaza needs now. We need a ceasefire to stop atrocities being committed, and to end the deadly and destructive cycle of violence. We need a ceasefire because the population of Gaza is starving, and it is extremely challenging to help them under constant Israeli bombardment.
A ceasefire is imperative to help stop further loss of life, deliver required levels of humanitarian aid, avoid the total destruction of civic infrastructure like schools and hospitals, and cultural history. Without a ceasefire, it is simply impossible for the international humanitarian system to work safely to distribute aid and help protect the lives of civilians.
Fedaa is taking care of his children in their tent in Tal Sultan in Rafah city which he took refuge after he lost his house and factory. (Photo: Alef Multimedia/Oxfam)
Displacement and Safe Zones
The Israeli military has now displaced more than 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people into ever smaller areas, while continuing its siege. Displaced people must be allowed to return home as soon as possible. Civilians who choose to stay in their homes still have the rights to protection under international humanitarian law.
Duaa Abu Sabha holds water bottles while walking to her tent in the Al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis Governorate. (Photo: Alef Multimedia/Oxfam)
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE AT SCALE NOW IMPOSSIBLE:
Oxfam and other operational agencies are doing what they can, through partners, to deliver some amounts of life-saving aid, but this is not enough. The Israeli military onslaught is causing such destruction, danger, and civilian terror and suffering that makes any international humanitarian response of the scale required now impossible across the entire enclave. The nightmare is unfolding in full view of the international community. Our political leaders are failing – in abject weakness – to forge a ceasefire, which is the only possible humanitarian action that now really matters.
Oxfam has mounted a humanitarian response despite unprecedented challenges. Along with partner organisations in Gaza, Oxfam has delivered cash, food, water, essential basic items and restored water and sanitation services. But it is not nearly enough to meet the massive needs. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow, in safety, to those most in need.
Israel is deliberately obstructing aid despite being legally obligated to ensure its provision and is using starvation as a weapon of war. The international community must increase pressure on Israel to release its stranglehold on aid delivery, which is starving the population and making access to clean water and sanitation impossible.
Aid workers’ lives must be protected. This is by far the deadliest emergency for aid workers in recent history. More than 280 people have been killed so far trying to save other people’s lives. Highly experienced workers say this is the most complex and dangerous response they have ever worked on.
Please donate what you can to the Gaza appeal today.
Your donation will help provide lifesaving urgent needs such as emergency food, clean water and sanitation, shelter materials, hygiene kits, and other essentials.