Gaza's top health official warned on Sunday that the current humanitarian truce will be meaningless unless it is urgently used to save lives, stressing that further delays could result in more preventable deaths. "The humanitarian truce is not a time for silence," said Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of Gaza's Health Ministry. "It must be a moment to rescue those still clinging to life." In a statement, Bursh painted a grim picture of the situation inside the enclave, where starving children, untreated injuries, and grieving mothers underscore the scale of the humanitarian collapse. He called for immediate medical evacuations for critically wounded patients, including those with severe head and spinal injuries, as well as individuals requiring surgeries and treatments that are currently unavailable in Gaza due to Israel's ongoing blockade. Bursh also urged the swift delivery of life-saving medical and nutritional supplies, including antibiotics, infant formula, protein-rich food, and therapeutic supplements. "Many patients are dying simply because they cannot access treatment outside Gaza," he said. "This truce means nothing if it does not become a real opportunity to save lives. Every delay leads to a new funeral, and every moment of silence costs a child's life." The statement came as Israel announced localized pauses in fighting on Sunday to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries through designated corridors—a move that has been met with skepticism by Palestinian officials and international humanitarian groups, who view such measures as attempts to whitewash Israel's role in the deepening crisis. Despite mounting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military campaign —launched on October 7, 2023— has continued unabated, killing more than 59,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The offensive has leveled large parts of Gaza, exacerbating food insecurity and collapsing the health system. In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, charging them with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also the subject of a genocide case before the International Court of Justice. — Agencies
