USAID warns that Israel's forced displacements could 'debilitate' Gaza aid efforts: Report
Israel’s decision to accelerate a forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza over the summer has “exacerbated” the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave, according to a leaked US cable circulating on social media.
The cable provides a blunt assessment of Israel’s forced displacement orders, in one case noting that at least 1.7 million Palestinians were crowded into a “safe zone” whose size is equivalent to just 70 percent of the total area of Washington’s Dulles International Airport.
The cable was reported by online news site Klip News on Wednesday. It includes an assessment by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on the accelerated pace of Israel’s forced displacement orders between 22 July and 25 August.
“Many people have been displaced multiple times, as the IDF has issued evacuation orders under unsafe conditions in quick succession and with little warning before operations begin, heightening protection risks,” the USAID’s disaster assistance relief team said.
"In addition to displacing large swaths of the population, IDF evacuation orders and subsequent military operations further constricted humanitarian space in Gaza, compounding risks to humanitarian staff and curbing access to populations in need,” the US officials warned.