GAZA, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip announced on Monday morning that it has suspended its response to calls for removing hazards caused by buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes, citing the depletion of fuel and a severe lack of rescue equipment.
In an official statement, the agency explained that since the ceasefire agreement took effect in October, its teams have managed to remove dangerous concrete blocks and walls from approximately 3,445 damaged buildings and homes that posed direct threats to the lives of residents and displaced persons across the Strip.
However, around 1,560 emergency calls related to damaged buildings remain pending, as these structures continue to pose serious risks to public safety. The agency noted its inability to respond due to current limitations.
The Civil Defense expressed deep regret over its inability to meet ongoing emergency needs, citing the near-total depletion of gasoline supplies and widespread damage to equipment in multiple governorates. It added that even under normal conditions, its resources were only sufficient to handle about 30% of all calls.
The agency warned that thousands of citizens living in or near these buildings, many of whom are displaced and residing in tents, now face life-threatening risks due to the halted response to urgent calls.
It urged the countries sponsoring the ceasefire agreement to take responsibility by ensuring the humanitarian response needs are met and by pressuring Israeli authorities to allow the entry of adequate fuel and rescue equipment to enable civil defense teams to fulfill their life-saving mission.
Previously, in late November, the Civil Defense reported that roughly 50% of its services had effectively ceased due to fuel shortages, severely hindering its ability to respond to thousands of dangerous and damaged buildings and threatening a full halt to search and rescue operations.
At that time, the agency also noted that its ability to respond to fires, explosions, and building collapses had been significantly disrupted, putting civilians at direct risk.
In a related statement, the Gaza Center for Human Rights expressed grave concern over the continued Israeli obstruction of fuel and diesel shipments into the Strip, warning that it puts humanitarian response efforts in extreme jeopardy.
Last Thursday, the center said that Israel’s strict restrictions on fuel entry have had a devastating effect on all aspects of life in Gaza, which is already grappling with catastrophic humanitarian conditions.
Similarly, the Union of Gaza Municipalities had previously warned of the consequences of continued fuel blockage, emphasizing that it exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, threatens the collapse of essential services, and endangers civilian lives.
Despite nearly three months having passed since the ceasefire agreement was signed, Israel continues to evade its commitments, foremost among them allowing fuel and essential equipment into Gaza to enable humanitarian sectors to carry out their work.
