Rita Farhat Mukand

In the holy month of Ramadaan, while Muslims are immersed in an atmosphere of prayers, good deeds, and zakat, the Internet is flooded with pictures and videos of the starving, emaciated people in North Gaza. The images of bodies, blood, devastation, ruined buildings amid smoke and fire from bombs are disturbing. It seems the world has forgotten Gaza, with not even a pause in the combat during Ramadan. 

Is the world so indifferent to Gaza?  

Just over 630 kilometers from Gaza in Egypt, a touching story unfolds where a Christian priest in Egypt decorates a mosque with his Muslim neighbours for Ramadan and this event illuminates the unity of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims all over the world living as good neighbours, just like the old days. 

The citizens of the world are empathically cheering for peace and unity, unlike their reluctant leaders.

In the boiling cauldron of trouble in Gaza, Care for Gaza, a non-profit charity in aid of helping the needy families of Palestine, has been doing a tremendous service to the Gazans since the start of the conflict distributing food and necessities to the people caught in the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Muhammad Smiry, a young teacher cum citizen-journalist from Gaza is assisting with this mammoth outreach donated by people all over the globe. Care for Gaza writes, “For the first day of Ramadan, we have arranged to deliver 100 flour bags and a total of 100 vegetable packages. We are also currently putting together 200 pre-cooked meals to distribute to the displaced families tomorrow. We are humbled and grateful for your continued support.”

A child relaxing in his tented accomodation in Rakan, Gaza

The passion for ceasefire and aid to Gaza is gaining momentum over the globe and world leaders are now being pushed to work on ceasefire. The first step is aid which is beginning to pour in in larger quantities, especially during Ramadan.

Richard Engel, an American journalist and author went onboard a Jordanian aid drop flight and was given a rare look into Gaza from the airplane. He says, “The mission today was run by the Jordanian military, a close US ally. We watched the crew do its last-minute briefs until it was time for takeoff. The food aid was on pallets and the bags on top were the parachutes, fixed with yellow ripcords to open them. First, we flew over Israel, the Israeli Military granting permission to de-conflict the airspace so the plane isn’t accidentally shot down. Israel looks peaceful from above. Then we reached Gaza where the damage is clear and extensive. After Hamas’ October 7th massacre, Israel has bombed and cut off Gaza so severely that people are now facing starvation. Officials from Hamas-run health ministry said at least 20 people have already died from malnutrition.” 

He continued, “They’ve just given the signal they are ready to jump, we are now over Northern Gaza, any moment now, these packets of food aid will begin parachuting down. Every bit helps but aid groups say, “This is not a solution.” The meals are for more than 20,000 but it’s a drop in the bucket, 2.3 million people need help below, but for now, it’s the only thing coming from the sky in Gaza that does not explode.” 

NGO Care for Gaza 's dump of food packets for distribution in Northern Gaza

As international pressure mounts on Israel to deal with the hunger crisis in Gaza, President Joe Biden of the USA during his State of the Union address unveiled intentions to extend aid to Gaza via maritime routes. The US Army's 7th Transportation Brigade, along with other units, is actively engaged in constructing a floating dock off the Gaza coastline to facilitate the delivery of food and essential assistance. This operation, potentially involving up to 1,000 US troops, is anticipated to span several weeks or even months, contingent upon Israel's cooperation.

In the meantime, the American cargo planes airdropped more than 36,000 meals to Gaza in a joint operation with Jordan. Many American citizens are gladdened to hear this. There have been massive rallies in America demanding a ceasefire and some express "that it's time the US stepped up to help the people of Gaza. Airdropping aid shows commitment to humanitarian efforts in a troubled region. Let's continue to provide support and show solidarity with those in need.”

Presently, major world powers united to launch a maritime corridor for Gaza, led by Cyprus' Amalthea Initiative and they tweeted, “With #EU, #US, #UAE, and others, we aim to deliver vital aid to #Palestinians in need.” 

An Palestinian portal Times of gaza has posted this video of children rushing to get the broth cooked by an NGO in Gaza on X:

Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis: The mass starvation continues in Northern Gaza pic.twitter.com/C8TXQzJ9pS

— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) March 8, 2024

The United Nations tweeted "Delivered enough food for 25,000 people to Gaza City early Tuesday in first successful convoy to the north since 20 February,” the UN agency said in a tweet. “With people in northern Gaza on the brink of famine, we need deliveries every day and we need entry points directly into the north.” 

The Turkish Red Crescent vessel carrying aid for Gaza reached the Egyptian port of Al-Arish. and is on its way to Gaza, carrying over 3,000 tons of food including food parcels containing ready-to-eat meals, water, food packages, flour, clothing, hygiene kits, materials for shelter such as tents, sleeping bags, and blankets, medical equipment, and baby supplies called as the largest aid shipment yet to Gaza. They are also presently distributing food packages within Gaza and providing hot meals to 5,000 people daily by running a soup kitchen in the city of Rafah, southern Gaza. 

During Ramadan, meals will be distributed as iftar and suhoor, the sunup and sundown meals for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, in which people fast during the daylight hours if their health allows it.

Governments have been chipping in for humanitarian aid for the embattled Gaza. India is also in the forefront of this global efforts. A ship carrying 200 tons of food aid sets sail from Cyprus to Gaza, marking a crucial step in addressing the famine threat organized by World Central Kitchen and Open Arms Fund, funded by the UAE, aims to establish a lifeline for Gaza's population.  

In November 2023, India sent a second batch of humanitarian aid to Palestine, carrying 32 tonnes of aid towards the El-Arish Airport in Egypt, as confirmed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. 

There were around eight planes carrying aid from Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, and Tunisia have landed at El Arish International Airport in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. Rwanda has sent 16 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The European Union is launching an air bridge and has tripled its assistance to the territory.

Indian aid has just arrived in Gaza, A video of the a big tranche of humanitarian aid being airsropped by the Indian Air Force was posted on X:

US Air Force airdrop aid over Gaza from a C-17 Globemaster III and a C-130J Super Hercules. More humanitarian aid was being airdropped by multiple countries into Gaza during the first couple of days of #Ramadan📷 when Muslims fast during the day. pic.twitter.com/j52g4KmloD

— DD India (@DDIndialive) March 14, 2024

Seeking to ensure that the aid trucks reach the needy recipients quickly, the Turkish Red Crescent is working in coordination with both the Egyptian Red Crescent and the Palestinian Red Crescent. Some of the countries reaching out to Gaza are the UK which has now joined the worldwide initiative to provide essential aid to malnourished children in Gaza, extending a beacon of hope during this crisis.

It was a heartwarming sight to witness aid containers airdropped to Northern Gaza, offering relief to nearly one million facing threatening shortages.

Under the guidance of the UAE’s ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council will boost humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people in Gaza during Ramadan.

President Von der Leyen of the European Commission declares the establishment of a maritime aid passage to Gaza, intending to ease the humanitarian plight in the region.

UAE working alongside the Egyptian air forces, and combined teams coordinated an operation employing three aircraft to transport around 42 tonnes of crucial food and medical supplies. This contribution supplements the previous distribution of 78 tonnes since the inception of the initiative.

Gaza - Now and then (Images released by Israeli handles on X)

Mercy Without Limits, a non-profit organization in Overland Park, Kansas, USA wrote, “Through our food basket initiative, we're delivering essential groceries to 500 families in Gaza – each to last a family of 5 for around a month. From pantry staples to fresh produce, these baskets offer much-needed support to those facing food insecurity.”

During the recent Oscars, accepting the award for the best international film for The Zone of Interest, director Jonathan Glazer calls for an end to Gaza attacks.

Celebrities, including musicians Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, Poor Things star Mark Ruffalo, and comedian Ramy Youssef, wore red pins at the 96th Academy Awards to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The red pins were distributed by Artists4Ceasefire, a group of celebrities and entertainment industry members who collectively signed a letter late in October asking United States President Joe Biden to demand a ceasefire as well as the safe release of captives in Gaza. The pin design shows a red glossy circle with a hand and a black heart.

“The pin symbolises collective support for an immediate and permanent cease-fire, the release of all of the hostages, and for the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza,” Artists4Ceasefire said in a press release.

“Compassion must prevail,” it added. The more than 380 signatories include Cate Blanchett, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez, and Bradley Cooper. Separately, during the Golden Globe Awards in January, some stars were seen wearing a yellow ribbon that was used to show support for the captives being held by Hamas.

A ray of light shone when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to explore prospects for a ceasefire in Gaza.

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There are mediated talks with Hamas in Cairo to bring about a ceasefire and an increase in aid, but the negotiations have faced difficulties. An international coalition forges a lifeline, but the UN reminds us: it's a start, not a solution.” It is just a start and a long way has to go before there is a permanent ceasefire.  

Rita Farhat Mukand is an independent writer.