Fate Of Starving Palestinians Hangs On Faraway Truce Deal

Hunger and malnutrition are widespread in Gaza as aid is disrupted by fighting while politicians debate a ceasefire

- BEL TREW

Palestinian families living in tents off humanitarian aid in Rafah - where a 1kg bag of flour (if you can find one) now costs nearly £40 – know their lives are literally in the hands of those negotiating a truce thousands of miles away.

Most of the people in this overcrowded city bordering Egypt have already been displaced because of the intense fighting and vast destruction in Gaza caused by Israel. Families live on the streets, in school and hospital courtyards or in the squares.

There are no basements to seek shelter in, few walls to crouch behind. There is nowhere to run, there is nowhere to hide.

Israel has vowed a ground assault into Rafah – where an estimated 1.5 million people are crammed into a few square kilometres – seen by Tel Aviv as the last stronghold of Hamas, responsible for the 7 October attack in southern Israel.

The United Nations said any offensive into the town would be slaughter.

In the north of Gaza, much of which has already been flattened by Israel’s advance, Oxfam said yesterday: “The risk of genocide was mounting.” Some 300,000 people still live there, despite being almost entirely cut off from aid for four months.

People in Gaza City are reportedly eating grass and are making bread out of animal feed. Oxfam said there is now “catastrophic hunger” with people drinking toilet water and eating wild plants.