An Arab-Islamic ministerial committee is urgently calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, alongside the provision of unrestricted humanitarian aid to the area. This plea follows intensified Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza, which the committee has warned are exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.

The committee, led by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and including top diplomats from Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, and Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, convened virtually with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other senior Palestinian officials.They discussed diplomatic strategies to end the ongoing conflict, ease the blockade on Gaza, and plan for a high-level international peace conference, co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, scheduled for June in New York. The aim of the conference is to revitalize the two-state solution, based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The ministers expressed their strong backing for mediation efforts spearheaded by Egypt,Qatar,and the United States. They implored Israel to immediately facilitate the entry of humanitarian and medical assistance, grant complete access to United Nations agencies, particularly UNRWA, and cease military actions in both Gaza and the West Bank.

The committee also advocated for an international conference in Cairo focused on recovery and reconstruction, to be held as soon as a ceasefire is implemented. They denounced Israel’s refusal to allow the committee’s visit to Ramallah, calling it a breach of diplomatic protocol and an indication of the Israeli government’s “extremist” policies that impede aid and undermine peace initiatives.

Airstrikes Intensify,Civilian Structures Damaged

On Sunday,Israeli airstrikes intensified across northern Gaza,hitting residential buildings and high-rises in Gaza City and its surroundings. Gaza’s Civil Defense reported that approximately 70 residential buildings were destroyed within 48 hours,worsening conditions in the densely populated area.

“Delivering aid in Gaza had become a ‘deadly trap’,” warned Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, 37 people were killed and 136 injured in the last 24 hours. Since Israel resumed its military campaign on March 18, the death toll has reached 4,149. Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, more then 54,400 Palestinians have been killed and over 124,000 injured, according to local health authorities.

One of the deadliest recent incidents involved an Israeli airstrike near an aid distribution site in Rafah, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and numerous serious injuries. Gaza health officials reported that all victims had been shot in the head or chest, calling it a intentional targeting of civilians.

Regional Impact and humanitarian Crisis

In Israel, missile sirens briefly disrupted operations at Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday after a projectile was detected from Yemen. Israeli media reported that the U.S.-supplied THAAD missile defense system likely intercepted the projectile,leading to a temporary airspace closure,according to Channel 12.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, warned that delivering aid in Gaza had become a “deadly trap,” and urged Israel to lift its blockade and allow secure, unrestricted humanitarian access.

The crisis is further complicated by a severe water shortage in Gaza. The Gaza City municipality reported that 75% of water wells have been destroyed as October,reducing available daily water supplies to just 35,000 cubic meters-down from 120,000 before the war. Officials warned of looming health and environmental disasters unless emergency relief is delivered soon.

Diplomatic efforts for a truce appear to be gaining traction. A senior hamas official told Reuters the group had responded positively to a new ceasefire proposal but requested several amendments. A Palestinian source familiar with the talks said Hamas is seeking a phased release of hostages over a proposed 60-day truce, broader aid distribution, and international guarantees that any agreement will lead to a permanent ceasefire.

Despite these developments, the bombardment of Gaza continues unabated, with destruction mounting and hopes for a durable political resolution still uncertain.