Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan has accused Israel of turning the Gaza Strip into a “Nazi concentration camp” and carrying out a deliberate policy of genocide against the Palestinian population.

His televised statement coincided with an emergency session of the UN Security Council, convened to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the deteriorating conditions of hostages held by Hamas.

Hamdan claimed that over 22,000 humanitarian aid trucks remain blocked at border crossings, while Gaza suffers from critical shortages of infant formula and medical supplies. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 180 people have died from hunger, including 93 children, and 96% of families face extreme food insecurity.

The situation has drawn international alarm. UNICEF reports that one in three people in Gaza go days without food, and UNRWA has described the enclave as a “cemetery of children.” Since October 2023, more than 61,149 Palestinians have been killed, with an average of 28 children dying daily from starvation or attacks.

Hamdan emphasized that Israeli airstrikes have targeted aid distribution centers, resulting in the deaths of over 1,500 civilians. He accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war and condemned the international community’s silence, calling it a moral failure.

Regarding Israeli hostages, Hamas stated that they are treated “according to Islamic values” and share the same suffering as Gaza’s population. The group expressed willingness to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), but only if permanent humanitarian corridors are opened and Israeli aerial operations cease during aid deliveries.

The release of disturbing videos showing emaciated hostages, including Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski, has intensified global outrage and prompted calls for immediate action. The UN has reiterated that hostage-taking is a war crime, and demanded the unconditional release of all captives.

As famine looms and diplomatic efforts stall, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to escalate. Hamdan concluded by urging the UN and global powers to enforce binding mechanisms that compel Israel to allow the uninterrupted flow of food, medicine, and humanitarian personnel into Gaza.

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