World Health Organization: Fuel Needed for Rafah Hospitals Will Run Out in Three Days

The World Health Organization announced on Thursday that it has only enough fuel for three days of medical operations in southern Gaza, and the fuel shortage has forced one of the three remaining hospitals in the city of Rafah to close. According to the Associated Press, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has been closed since early Tuesday when the Israeli army took control of the Palestinian side and prevented the entry of essential humanitarian aid. Additionally, the United Nations reported that northern Gaza is currently in a state of 'full-scale famine.' Israel announced that the Kerem Shalom crossing was reopened as an alternative route for aid entry early Wednesday. However, UN officials stated that no aid has entered Gaza, and due to ongoing conflicts, no one on the Palestinian side is receiving it. The Israeli army released a statement on that day showing the entry of aid into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The Kerem Shalom crossing between Gaza and Israel had been closed for several days following a rocket attack nearby that killed four Israeli soldiers. The White House previously reported on Netanyahu's promise to Biden to reopen this crossing for humanitarian aid. The Rafah crossing with Egypt and the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel are crucial points for the entry of food, medicine, and other supplies that the 2.3 million population of Gaza relies on. These two crossings have been closed for at least the past two days, although the smaller Erez (Beit Hanoun) crossing between Israel and northern Gaza continues to operate. The World Health Organization states that about 1.2 million people have taken refuge in Rafah, more than half of whom are children. Many of them have fled other war-torn areas of Gaza to Rafah. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of more than 250 others, Israel launched an invasion of Gaza aimed at destroying this group supported by the Islamic Republic and recovering the hostages. Hamas officials have repeatedly emphasized since the October 7 terrorist attack that they will repeat such an attack if possible. Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. An examination of the U.S. response to Israeli operations in Rafah shows that the United States opposes extensive operations in Rafah. Senator Murphy stated that the U.S. government finds it difficult to show that Israel has adhered to its commitments, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen remarked that Israel's actions in Rafah escalate tensions.