Gaza civilians trapped as border crossing stays shut

The citizens of Gaza find themselves in the throes of a humanitarian crisis, ordered to leave for their own safety as Israel prepares a ground offensive, yet left with no way out. On Monday, the Rafah border crossing with Egypt remained closed, leaving hundreds of Palestinian refugees stranded. Perilous is not a strong enough word to describe conditions in Gaza. As one resident stated: ‘it is no longer safe in Gaza; a war rages on. Yesterday, 15 of my relatives lost their lives when their house was bombed.’ Just as people cannot get out, basic necessities like food, fuel and medicine cannot get in. Another local resident offered his bleak assessment: “The situation in Gaza is beyond description; there is no water, no electricity, and no access to vital supplies. … these are now luxuries, and life in Gaza has become nearly unlivable.’ Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, reiterated that Israel has not yet granted permission to open the border with Gaza.