The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Saturday that a convoy carrying critical medicines and medical consumables is scheduled to enter the Gaza Strip with coordination from the World Health Organization (WHO). In a statement, the ministry stressed that the shipment contains only medical supplies, with no food items included. "These supplies are of extreme importance and urgently required to continue life-saving treatment for patients and the injured," the ministry said. Gaza's health sector has been on the brink of collapse since Israel launched a military offensive on the enclave on Oct. 7, 2023. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army's bombardment, blockade, and restrictions on aid have devastated the territory, leaving hospitals barely functional and fueling a growing humanitarian crisis. According to the ministry, more than 60,000 Palestinians — most of them women and children — have been killed since the start of the war. Starvation deaths have climbed to 162, including 92 children. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military campaign. — Agencies
