After nearly three months of deadly strikes, ongoing displacement, and stalled humanitarian aid, exhausted residents of “Gaza” say they are yearning for the fighting to end as Israel’s war against Hamas appears likely to continue into the new year.
The Humanitarian Situation in Gaza
The Israeli army continued its campaign across the Gaza Strip on Friday despite increasing international opposition, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterating his call for a “humanitarian ceasefire,” while South Africa initiated a case against Israel at the International Court.
The Rising Threat of Infectious Diseases
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization warned of the growing threat of infectious diseases as more and more Gaza residents are displaced, forcing them to head south toward the overcrowded city of Rafah.
The Suffering of Gaza’s Residents
“Enough of this war! We are completely exhausted. We are constantly moving from one place to another in cold conditions,” said Umm Louay Abu Khater (49) from a camp in the southern border city.
“The bombs keep falling on us day and night. We expect rockets at any moment while others are preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve.”
Displacement and Acute Resource Shortages
The United Nations states that more than 85 percent of the 2.4 million residents of Gaza have fled their homes, many suffering from hunger and enduring winter rains in makeshift tents.
Israel imposed a blockade after October 7, following years of existing siege, leading to acute shortages of food, clean water, fuel, and medicine, with humanitarian aid providing only sporadic relief.
Negotiations and Diplomatic Efforts
The war in Gaza was triggered by the bloody attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7 against Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to estimates by Agence France-Presse based on Israeli figures.
Palestinian fighters took about 250 people hostage, with more than half believed to still be inside the war zone, some presumed deceased.
The Israeli army states that 168 soldiers have been killed within Palestinian territories.
A Hamas delegation was in Cairo on Friday discussing an Egyptian plan proposing a renewed ceasefire for hostage release and gradually for Palestinian prisoners, ultimately aimed at ending the war, according to sources close to Hamas.
A Hamas official told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity that the delegation would present “comments” on the proposal and would seek “guarantees for a complete Israeli military withdrawal” from Gaza.
Israel has not officially commented on the Cairo plan yet, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told hostage families on Thursday that “we are in contact” with Egyptian mediators and vowed to “work to bring them all back.”
American media Axios and Israeli Ynet, citing unidentified Israeli officials, reported that Qatari mediators informed Israel that Hamas was ready to resume talks on releasing new hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.
In Rafah, Youssef Ahras (27) told Agence France-Presse that he hopes the negotiations can “stop the bloodshed… because the cost of war is too high.”
“I don’t know much about the political aspects because we as residents are occupied with our basic needs,” he said.
Accusations of “Genocide”
For its part, South Africa on Friday filed a request in the International Court of Justice to initiate proceedings against Israel for what it called “acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
In its request, it called on the court to “protect the rights of the Palestinian people from further severe and irreversible harm.”
In response, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Hayat wrote on social media platform X that “Israel categorically rejects the filthy slander promoted by South Africa and its request.”
It has
South Africa has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, often linking it to the ruling African National Congress’s (ANC) own struggle against apartheid.
Pretoria has strongly condemned Israel’s response to Hamas attacks and withdrew all its diplomats from the country, while Israel responded by withdrawing its ambassador from South Africa.
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