The United Nations has called on Israel to allow the medical evacuation of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, as the Rafah border crossing remains closed despite the recently agreed ceasefire.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that about 15,000 Palestinians in desperate need of medical treatment are awaiting evacuation. Many of them suffer from severe injuries or chronic illnesses that cannot be treated in Gaza’s devastated healthcare system.

The appeal comes as reports emerge that the bodies of 54 unidentified Palestinians, returned to Gaza by Israel, have been buried in a mass grave in central Deir el-Balah. Local officials said several of the bodies bore signs of torture and execution.

In a separate ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stated that Israel, as the occupying power, has a legal obligation to allow the entry of basic necessities into war-ravaged Gaza. The court further said that Israel’s actions amounted to “using starvation as a method of warfare,” a violation of international law.

According to Gaza’s health authorities, Israel’s war on the enclave has killed at least 68,234 people and wounded 170,373 since October 2023. The conflict began following the 7 October 2023 attacks, in which 1,139 people were killed in Israel and about 200 others were taken captive.

Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian agencies warn that Gaza remains on the brink of collapse, with its health system crippled and access to food, water and medicine severely restricted.

#Al Jazeera