Gaza / PNN /

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel continues to use humanitarian aid as a tool of pressure against Palestinians in Gaza, said Caroline Willemen, project coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the Strip.

In a press statement on Sunday, Willemen emphasized that humanitarian aid sent to the Gaza Strip should not be tied to any political conditions.

She noted that Israeli attacks on Gaza have significantly decreased since the ceasefire took effect, but pointed out that a major attack occurred on 19 October, with near-daily firing continuing.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza, she said, has not improved significantly. Water and shelter shortages persist, and hundreds of thousands of people continue to live in tents as winter approaches.

She noted that MSF teams continue to record severe malnutrition among children under five and pregnant women. While there has been slight improvement in food availability, the nutritional situation remains concerning.

"Residents of Gaza have lived under the threat of mass extermination for two years," Willemen added. "We urgently need aid to ensure people can sleep on a mattress with a blanket inside their tents. Rebuilding Gaza will take a long time, but we have not yet reached even the minimum basic humanitarian standards in the Strip."