Original source: Oxfam International

UNSC must pass binding resolution demanding an immediate halt to violence: Israel’s proposal to hold fire is 'inadequate' New York – As Foreign Ministers and diplomats try and hammer out a resolution on the ongoing Middle East crisis, tens of thousands of families under siege in Gaza are facing desperate conditions as mounting civilian casualties swamp a hospital system that is close to collapse, international aid agency Oxfam warned today.

The conflict is also stopping the highly inadequate amount of aid trickling into Gaza from reaching families trapped by the fighting, the agency said.

The recent decision by the Israeli government to hold fire for a few hours every day is clearly inadequate in dealing with the known scale of the humanitarian crisis, Oxfam said. It should be facilitating complete humanitarian access not inhibiting or controlling it. Oxfam welcomes any move to improve humanitarian access but this should not be a substitute for an immediate halt to the violence. The international agency added that an immediate cease-fire by all parties was imperative.

“There must be a robust response from the international community to achieve an immediate and permanent ceasefire. After 12 days of violence it is time for the Security Council to urgently to pass a binding resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire. Any further delay will mean further suffering for thousands of innocent civilians,” said Nicole Widdersheim, Head of Oxfam International’s New York Advocacy Office.

“The humanitarian situation is unbearable for Gaza's 1.5 million people, of which half are children, and supplies are needed urgently. Only an immediate ceasefire would give aid agencies the chance to bring some relief to them,' said Widdersheim.

On the “aid corridor” proposal by the Israeli government, Oxfam stresses that the impact of such measures will only be very limited due to the difficulties in transporting supplies to people for security reasons. Only those who are near the entry points would be able to access such supplies, leaving the majority of the population still struggling to survive in the face of a dearth of food, medicines and other essential items. “Without a full opening of the crossings to and from Gaza for humanitarian and commercial goods, and of people, the humanitarian situation will continue to be devastating,” Widdersheim said.