CAGES OF DEATH
Shocking pics show painfully thin monkeys & emaciated lions at zoo in bombed-out Gaza as animals left starving to death
The zoo was initially closed after the war begun but its been opened to host displaced people
IN GAZA's only zoo, destitute Palestinian families have been camping by the cages where starving animals have been crying out for food.
Several animals have already died, some animals are so weak that they cannot feed themselves whenever food becomes available, and dozens of displaced Palestinians have become forced onlookers.
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Lines of plastic tents have been strung from the metal bars of animal cages, alongside washing lines overflowing with an array of clothes.
Inside the cages, are emaciated animals in excruciating pain.
Ahmed Joumaa, the owner of Rafah Zoo, has expressed concern that more animals will die unless they get help soon.
He said: "At the beginning of the war, we were able to manage, then it went out of control.
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"Food is not available, and some animals have died, for example, the lioness has given birth but we couldn't provide for it.
"The cubs died, and the same thing happened with the monkeys and with the birds.
"The situation is very tragic, there's no food, water, medicine, or anything."
He explained that they have been trying to feed the animals water soaked bread just to keep them alive.
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But, despite their best efforts animals are falling ill and dying every day. The cases of starvation, weakness and anemia have become widespread, and until assistance arrives there is little they can do.
The Israeli offensive has led to a steep rise in feed prices - which rose from 70 shekels to 400 shekels, and is currently unavailable - as well as a scarcity of meat.
Almost 90 per cent of Gaza's population have been displaced since Israel launched their offensive, forcing many into makeshift shelters lining the rubble-ridden streets and around this zoo.
"There are many families who have been completely wiped out. Now all our family is staying in this zoo," said Adel Gomaa, who fled from Gaza City.
"Living among the animals is more merciful than what we get from the war planes in the sky."
Last week the UN backed a report that warned the entirety of Gaza's 2.3 million population is facing an increasing risk of famine.
90 per cent of the population have said that they regularly go without food for a whole day.
While there have also been cases of people begging for bread, paying extortionate amounts for cans of beans, and eating raw donkey meat.
that the region is "grappling with catastrophic hunger" and reiterated calls for a "humanitarian ceasefire".
"There is a risk of famine and it is increasing each day that the current situation of intense hostilities and restricted humanitarian access persists or worsens."
The report added that, while Egypt has been able to send some aid trucks to deliver food, water and medicine, the quantity delivered is just 10 per cent of what the territory's inhabitants need.
It has been estimated that at least 22,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7.
Tens of thousands more are presumed to still be lying underneath the rubble and debris.
The news comes just after the death of Saleh al-Arouri - which has raised concerns that the war, and a subsequent increase in deaths, may spread across the Middle East.
Saleh al-Arouri was considered to be one of the most powerful members of Hamas due to his close relationships with Iran, Lebanon, and Hezbollah.
It is due to these ties that it has been speculated that the war may spill out of the Gaza strip and into areas like Lebanon.
Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati described the killing as a war crime aimed at Lebanon to drag them deeper into the conflict.
As Izzat Al-Rishq - a member of the Hamas Political bureau - called it a "cowardly assassination by the Zionist occupation".
Although Hezbollah has threatened to retaliate, they haven't started to make any moves yet, according to the countries government official Abdallah Bou Habib.
Mr Habib said it would become clear in the next 24 hours if Hezbollah are planning to respond.
But Mr Habib has voiced his concerns over a potential deadlier war breaking out as Lebanon try to calm down the groups irate leaders.
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"We are very concerned. (The) Lebanese don't want to be dragged, even Hezbollah does not want to be dragged into a regional war," he said.
Iran, which sponsors Hamas and Hezbollah, has also come out and condemned the killing of Arouri by “the aggressive Zionist regime”.
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