Gaza Crisis- What is happening and how can I help?

What is happening?

‘“The level of suffering we are witnessing in Gaza is unprecedented in my mandate as secretary-general of the United Nations. I’ve never seen such a level of death and destruction as we are seeing in Gaza in the last few months.”

• António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General, 9/9/2024

Since the attacks on the 7^th of October, during which an estimated 1,195 people were killed by Hamas-led militants, including 36 children, and 251 people were taken hostage, the Israeli military has killed over 41,000 people in Gaza, including more than 16,000 children.

Relentless aerial bombardment has razed most of Gaza to the ground, and the ‘total siege’ of the small region has trapped over 2 million people in an area the size of County Louth, many of whom now live in famine-like conditions.

Despite widespread international pressure for a ceasefire, the level of death and destruction as a result of Israeli military activity has not abated. Earlier this month, 6 UN workers were killed along with 12 other people in an Israeli attack on a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza. This came only two days after another Israeli aerial attack on a humanitarian zone killed 40 people living in tents.

A Deepening Crisis

Every day of this crisis has brought a new atrocity and after almost a year, the scale of suffering shows no signs of abating. While Israel’s military campaign has spread further into areas of the West Bank and now Lebanon, the suffering of people in Gaza continues:

• Between 7 October 2023 and 12 September 2024, at least 41,118 Palestinians were killed and 95,125 were injured. (Source: UN OCHA)
• Hunger and potential famine: According to the latest Food Security Analysis, there is a high risk of famine across the Gaza strip. About 96 percent of the population (2.15M people) face high levels of acute food insecurity. While the whole territory is classified in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), over 495,000 people (22 percent of the population) are facing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). (Source: Integrated Food Security Classification)
• Humanitarian access is severely restricted and repeated evacuation orders are deepening the humanitarian crisis for hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza. As of last week, more than 55 evacuation orders remained in effect, covering up to 86 per cent of the Strip. (Source: OCHA)

• Continuous displacement is disrupting access to nutrition sites and distribution cycles. Despite the efforts of humanitarian responders, more than one million people in south and central Gaza did not receive any food rations in the month of August. (Source: OCHA)
• Water supply: Since the beginning of the blockade by Israel in 2007, water supply in Gaza has been chronically constrained. Since October 7^th, the destruction of already strained water and sanitation facilities has reduced the amount of water available in Gaza by 94 per cent to 4.74 litres a day per person – just under a third of the recommended minimum for survival in emergencies and less than a single toilet flush. (Source: Oxfam)
• Polio vaccination: The shortage of water and the destruction of sewage treatment infrastructure has led to the outbreak of disease, including polio, which had been eradicated in Gaza in 1999. The last stage of a rapid vaccination campaign in the war-torn enclave culminated on the 12^th of September. Despite incredibly difficult conditions, including serious harassment from Israeli security services, over 560,000 children aged below ten years of age were vaccinated against polio in just 12 days. (Source WHO)
• Medical evacuations of critically ill and injured patients are almost entirely suspended since the closing of the Rafah crossing in May. An estimated 12,000 patients are waiting to leave to receive urgently needed medical care. (Source: OCHA)
• Education cut off: As children around much of the world return to school this month, over 600,000 children in Gaza remain locked out of school, having already missed an entire year of formal education. Since October 2023, every school in the Gaza Strip has been shuttered. (Source: UNICEF)
• Economy devastated, poverty soars: Israel’s war has devastated Gaza’s economy, reducing it to less than one-sixth of its 2022 size, while there has also been a “significant downturn” in the occupied West Bank, according to a United Nations report. The siege and bombardment has resulted been unprecedented decline in economic activity, far surpassing the impact of all previous military confrontations in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021. Inflationary pressures combined with soaring unemployment and collapsing incomes, have severely impoverished Palestinian households. Source: UNCTAD)

What is Trócaire doing?

Trócaire has worked in the Palestinian territories and Israel since 2002, addressing human rights violations and providing humanitarian aid. We also support local partners to provide support services to survivors of gender-based violence as well as broader psychosocial support to women and children who have suffered through trauma.

We are continuing to support our partners in Israel and Palestine at this crucial time as they provide humanitarian support to those who are affected by the conflict.

• Trócaire has partnered with Medical Aid for Palestinians to deploy an emergency medical team comprising a group of trauma doctors, surgeons, paediatricians and humanitarian experts. We are also providing hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses, life-saving trauma and emergency medicines, medical supplies and disposable items for injured people. Trócaire has just approved additional funding to our partner Medical Aid for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to enhance the health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women, children aged 0-10 years, post-surgery individuals, and auto immune compromised individuals suffering from malnutrition and related health conditions.

• Our sister organisation, Caritas Jerusalem, provide primary health care in Gaza. In partnership with WHO and the Ministry of Health, Caritas deployed 14 medical teams to administer polio vaccines to vulnerable children during the recent polio vaccination campaign. Caritas is also providing multi-purpose cash assistance, food aid and psychosocial support to people sheltering in church premises.

We also support human rights projects that challenge the violation of human rights in Gaza and the West Bank. We do this by supporting organisations – both Israeli and Palestinian – who monitor and document violations, as well as providing legal support and physical protection to communities.

In Ireland and internationally, Trócaire carries out international campaigns and advocacy to help tackle the root causes of crises in the region and address human rights violations.

What are we asking for?

As those who have survived this gruelling year in Gaza face into the abyss, we must do all that we can to stop the spiral of suffering. Following the acknowledgement in January by the International Court of Justice that there is a plausible risk of genocide occurring in Gaza, all states are obliged to ‘cease aid or assistance to Israel that may facilitate the commission of acts that may amount to genocide or undermine all States’ obligations under the Convention to prevent genocide’.  In Ireland and at EU level, there are a number of immediate steps that we must take to ensure we are maximising our potential impact.

• Enact the Occupied Territories Bill: The Bill, first tabled in 2018 by Independent Senator Frances Black, would ban trade with the illegal Israeli settlements built on occupied Palestinian land. Trócaire has been calling on the government to enact the Bill for 6 years and is now part of a new campaign to enact the Bill without delay.
• Ensure Ireland plays no part in the conflict: Although Ireland has taken a rhetorically positive stance, calling for an immediate ceasefire and condemning violations of humanitarian law when they have occurred, there is a need to ensure that no armaments munitions pass through Ireland for use in the war on Gaza. Furthermore, Ireland should pass the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill and ensure that the Irish Strategic Investment Fund divests itself of holdings or bonds in companies or economic actors that are involved directly or indirectly in the commission of war crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory.
• Speak up for a ceasefire: While many international voices prevaricated in the early stages of this bombardment, almost all respected parties outside of Israel, and countless people inside of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, are demanding a ceasefire. We must amplify those voices demanding an end to the violence.

What can I do?

Share knowledge, with friends, family and….talk to your politicians!

As Ireland approaches a general election, now is the time to let your local TDs and potential candidates know that the plight of the people caught up in this conflict is the most urgent matter of concern. A commitment to enacting the Occupied Territories Bill is a critical first step but there must be an international arms embargo on all parties involved in this conflict, particularly after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued its ruling warning of a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza.

As the siege of Gaza enters it’s 12^th month, there is a risk of international fatigue and diverted attention. Everyone has a part to play in ensuring we do not stop talking about Gaza. Please continue to share the voices of those affected by the crisis on your social media and talk to your friends about how you can keep the conversation alive.

Take to the streets

Trócaire has marched alongside other campaigners for peace for many months now. Though we never thought it would last so long, the last national demonstration for Palestine in Dublin was the largest yet, with over 60,000 people demanding a ceasefire.

On October 5^th, there will be another large demonstration in Dublin. Thousands of people from all around the country are expected to be yet again taking to the streets of the capital to loudly express their solidarity with the people of Gaza. Trócaire will be there too – look out for our placards, come say hello and let’s make some noise! We hope to see you there.

Join Trócaire’s campaigns

It is a challenging time around the world right now, but Trócaire believes that we can make a change. Informed, sustained and positive action that Trócaire has been part of has already led to great change in Ireland and around the world.

Why not join us? Become a campaigner and support advocacy campaigns on access to justice, Palestine, climate justice and more. You can join our growing community of activists here.