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‘Not going away’: Inside the Epstein drama that’s thrown House GOP into chaos

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Continued fallout from the handling of Jeffrey Epstein’s case has partially paralyzed House Republicans’ agenda this week.

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Frustrated GOP lawmakers have found themselves in a political minefield over the late pedophile, pointing fingers at each other, Democrats and even the Trump administration as members of President Donald Trump’s base continue to clamor for immediate transparency.

«We ought to be consistent and transparent. So we have consistently asked for the release of the Epstein files, and that shouldn’t stop now that we are in charge,» one House Republican told Fox News Digital under the condition of anonymity.

«This issue is not going away. The quicker we deal with it and nip it in the bud, then we take it off the table as an issue the Democrats can use against us and can be used, as you see, procedurally, to stop other good legislation from going through.»

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COMER DISMISSES BIDEN DOCTOR’S BID FOR PAUSE IN COVER-UP PROBE: ‘THROWING OUT EVERY EXCUSE’

Speaker Mike Johnson is urging House Republicans to let the Trump administration do its work on the Epstein case while accusing Democrats of politicizing it. (Getty Images)

A Department of Justice (DOJ) memo earlier this month declaring the Epstein case closed ignited a civil war within the GOP, with figures on the far right accusing Trump officials of stonewalling despite promises of transparency.

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Days later, Trump called on a federal judge to release grand jury testimony in Epstein’s case.

Democrats, meanwhile, have seized on the discord with newfound calls to «release the Epstein files,» as Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, put it on multiple occasions.

Democrats on the panel – which serves as the final gatekeeper to legislation that requires a simple majority vote – have used their ability to introduce an unlimited number of amendments during committee hearings to force Republicans to take politically sticky votes on releasing information about Epstein.

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«There is a list, that list is a victim list. And you’ve got to carefully walk through a victims list, because it involved Epstein. Epstein was involved with minors,» said Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont. «I think the other thing is, I find ironic just out of circumstance, that the Democrats are pushing so hard for an Epstein file that the Biden administration had for four years.»

It led to House GOP leaders advancing a nonbinding resolution calling on the Trump administration to release the files, though it’s not clear when that will receive a chamber-wide vote.

But Democrats pledged to work from the same playbook during a Monday night Rules Committee hearing to kick off the GOP agenda. Republicans responded by forcing those proceedings to grind to a halt.

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Jeffrey Epstein

A Department of Justice memo earlier this month declaring the Epstein case closed ignited a civil war within the GOP. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP)

House leaders canceled a planned day of voting on Thursday – sending lawmakers to August recess a day early.

«The rules committee will not be meeting, and rightfully so. They were going to use the whole time, and they told us, just amendment after amendment. They think they’ve got a wedge in this – they don’t,» committee member Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., told Fox News Digital.

He’s one of several House Republicans who told Fox News Digital they were giving deference to the Trump administration on handling the issue – while praising how the White House has handled it so far.

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Multiple lawmakers told Fox News Digital that Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., urged Republicans in their Tuesday morning closed-door conference to allow the administration to do its work and not demand the release of information that could risk harming Epstein’s victims.

FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SAYS SHE ‘NEVER HAD A CONCERN’ ABOUT BIDEN’S MENTAL STATE AS HOUSE PROBE HEATS UP

One person said, «We don’t want to embarrass ourselves, keep asking and asking for something, then it comes out, and it’s like – ‘We didn’t want that.’ But I mean, we’ve got to trust the administration.»

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«The administration has done a great job. All the wins that they have – I’m not going to let this waylay them,» Norman said. «In 45 days or two months, if nothing happens, that’ll be a problem. But that won’t happen. We’re going to get it out.»

Moments later he took to X to demand an immediate vote on the nonbinding Epstein resolution, however.

«The American people deserve action, not excuses. Let’s vote on it before August recess and get it DONE!!» Norman said.

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The South Carolina Republican, who is considering a bid for governor, is one of several conservatives pushing the issue, despite GOP leaders’ pleas to stay quiet on the matter.

Trump in the Oval Office with a serious face

President Donald Trump has urged Republicans to move on, while calling on a judge to release Epstein grand jury files. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., teamed up with Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on a measure that could force a House-wide vote on releasing Epstein-related documents – if it netted a majority of the chamber’s support. That mechanism, called a discharge petition, could force House GOP leaders into a difficult position when they are back in early September.

Several Republican lawmakers have signed onto Massie’s measure in support.

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Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee unanimously approved a move by Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., to call for imprisoned ex-Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to be subpoenaed.

Three more House Republicans, however, told Fox News Digital they believe most lawmakers want the matter to dissipate.

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One locked in on Massie and his nonbinding resolution, «He’s doing all of this for self-promotion and attention, and it’s sad and pathetic.»

Even Johnson took aim at Massie during his weekly press conference when asked about his discharge petition.

«It’s interesting to me that he chose the election of President Trump to bring this, to team up with the Democrats and bring this discharge petition,» the speaker said.

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«I also try to follow the Scripture. You know it says, Bless those who persecute you. So let me just say about Thomas Massie: Could you just accept my Southern, bless his heart.»

Rep. Thomas Massie

Rep. Thomas Massie is aiming to force a vote on getting Epstein files released to the public. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

He also pointed out the administration was in the process of sifting through what information it could release.

‘There’s no purpose for Congress to push an administration to do something that they’re already doing. And so this is for political games. I’m very, very resolute on this. We can both call for full transparency and also protect victims,» Johnson said.

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Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a Trump ally who is backing Massie’s discharge petition, told reporters, «I’m all for transparency, but we just have to be a little patient with the court.»

Several people noted that any bombshell information implicating Trump or other high-level figures would have leaked by now.

But the two other House Republicans who spoke with Fox News Digital said they and their colleagues were frustrated with how the Trump administration has handled the matter so far.

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«We need to give it the opportunity to simmer down,» one of the two lawmakers said. «I will say, for me, when you say the list is on your desk, and there’s no list – you can’t take that one back. And I think that’s probably the genesis of the whole thing.»

That was in reference to Bondi telling Fox News Channel of Epstein’s client list in February, «It’s sitting on my desk right now to review.»

Another GOP lawmaker told Fox News Digital, «You can’t set up all these expectations and then not expect some criticism on the backend when you decide to not move forward with it… I don’t understand it at all.»

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And Massie, for his part, has remained fixed in his course while arguing that doing otherwise will cost Republicans the 2026 elections. He also accused Johnson of telling Republicans to «stick your head in the sand» and defer to the Trump administration.

Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before Senate

Attorney General Pam Bondi has been under fire by some on the right over her handling of the matter. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«If we don’t take the right side of this issue, it’s going to cost us votes in the midterms. People are becoming despondent. They’re apathetic. Why would they go vote if they gave us the House, the Senate and the White House and the transparency and justice they were promised doesn’t happen?» Massie said. «And I think it could be a real problem for us. That’s why it would behoove the speaker to bring this to the floor. It would be in the best interest of this institution just to vote this out and give it to the Senate and let them do their thing.»

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When reached for comment, the White House responded with a lengthy statement touting Trump’s accomplishments that did not mention Epstein.

«Under President Trump’s leadership, the Republican Party has achieved unprecedented unity and strength. After securing the largest share of votes ever for a Republican presidential nominee and winning majorities in both the House and Senate, President Trump has delivered the most impactful first six months of any presidency. He has fulfilled numerous campaign promises – and then some!» said spokesman Harrison Fields.

Indeed, Republicans have had a number of significant legislative successes this year, even with a razor-thin majority.

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When reached for comment, a DOJ spokesperson pointed Fox News Digital to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s statement on Tuesday, digging in on the department’s earlier memo.

«[I]n the recent thorough review of the files maintained by the FBI in the Epstein case, no evidence was uncovered that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties. President Trump has told us to release all credible evidence. If Ghislane Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say,» Blanche said. «Therefore, at the direction of Attorney General Bondi, I have communicated with counsel for Ms. Maxwell to determine whether she would be willing to speak with prosecutors from the Department.»

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Trump stands by Alina Habba as DOJ clashes with judges over her replacement

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President Donald Trump is doubling down on his nomination of Alina Habba after federal judges in New Jersey declined to extend her term as interim U.S. attorney, and instead chose to replace her with a different prosecutor, whom the DOJ subsequently fired.

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The unusual chain of events has led to confusion over who will become the next interim U.S. attorney in the District of New Jersey, as Habba’s 120-day term is set to expire this week.

A White House spokesman said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that Trump supports Habba becoming the permanent U.S. attorney, a position that requires Senate confirmation.

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President Donald Trump listens as White House Presidential Counselor Alina Habba delivers remarks before being sworn in as the interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey in the Oval Office at the White House on March 28, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

«President Trump has full confidence in Alina Habba, whose work as acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey has made the Garden State and the nation safer,» White House spokesman Harrison Fields said. «The Trump Administration looks forward to her final confirmation in the U.S. Senate and will work tirelessly to ensure the people of New Jersey are well represented.»

But Habba’s vote in the Senate does not appear to be happening anytime soon, if at all. New Jersey’s two Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, are currently blocking Habba’s nomination through the Senate’s «blue slip» tradition, and a person familiar with the process said the Senate has not received materials needed to vet her nomination in any case.

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In the meantime, arcane laws surrounding the authority to fill federal vacancies have become pertinent.

Trump appointed Habba as the temporary U.S. attorney in March, but that term expires on Friday, according to the Department of Justice. Statutes indicate that federal judges have the authority to extend an interim U.S. attorney’s term or vote on replacing that person.

The district court judges of New Jersey, most of whom were appointed by Democratic presidents, convened behind closed doors on Monday and chose to replace Habba with her top assistant, Desiree Grace, a career DOJ prosecutor since 2016. Grace rose through the ranks to become head of the criminal division in New Jersey before becoming Habba’s No. 2 in April.

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Alina Habba

Trump lawyer Alina Habba speaks at a campaign rally for then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 29, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

However, Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that the judges infringed on Trump’s authority to appoint U.S. attorneys by voting to replace Habba. Bondi said she «removed» Grace in response to the judges’ actions.

«[Habba] has been doing a great job in making NJ safe again,» Bondi said in a statement. «Nonetheless, politically minded judges refused to allow her to continue in her position, replacing Alina with the First Assistant. Accordingly, the First Assistant United States Attorney in New Jersey has just been removed.»

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Grace could not be reached for comment. An anonymous source with knowledge of the matter told the New York Times that Grace received an email Tuesday informing her that she was fired.

WHITE HOUSE HITS BACK AT DEM MAYOR SUING US ATTORNEY AFTER ICE ARREST: ‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’

In this Sept. 4, 2018, photo, Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. speaks during the committee's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's nominations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Bookerhas released a new batch of "committee confidential" documents about Kavanaugh, even after a conservative judicial group referred his earlier disclosures to the Senate Ethics Committee. The documents released Sept. 12 show Kavanaugh's involvement in President George W. Bush-era judicial nominations, including some that were controversial. Judicial Watch wants the Ethics Committee to investigate as a possible violation of Senate rules. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

In this Sept. 4, 2018, photo, Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J. speaks during the committee’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s nominations hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

A Habba spokeswoman told Fox News Digital that Habba is still the interim U.S. attorney through Friday. But the tension between the DOJ and the judges leaves open the question of who will assume the role come Saturday.

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Booker said that firing a court-appointed U.S. attorney was part of a «pattern» of the DOJ flouting the law.

«The firing of a career public servant, lawfully appointed by the court, is another blatant attempt to intimidate anyone that doesn’t agree with them and undermine judicial independence,» Booker wrote on X.

Booker is among the critics who have deemed Habba unqualified for the job. Habba, who served as Trump’s legal spokeswoman and personal defense lawyer during his criminal prosecutions, had no experience as a prosecutor before Trump appointed her as lead prosecutor in New Jersey.

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Upon taking the job, Habba was accused of politicizing the role after she advocated turning New Jersey «red,» and she drew a rare rebuke from a judge for ordering Newark’s Democratic mayor arrested and then quickly dismissing the charges.

But Trump and DOJ leadership are standing firmly by Habba. The Trump administration found a workaround in the Northern District of New York when John Sarcone’s term as U.S. attorney recently expired there, but it is unclear if a similar option is available for Habba.

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Anne Joseph O’Connell, a Stanford Law School professor, wrote on Bluesky that she believed Trump had the authority to fire Grace and possibly re-appoint Habba to serve out another temporary term.

«The question now is, will they name Habba to a new 120-day interim US attorney appointment or will they turn to the Vacancies Act and name a different person as acting U.S. attorney,» O’Connell wrote.

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Thailand, Cambodia troops open fire on each other, killing at least 12

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At least 12 people have died as violent clashes escalate along the Thailand-Cambodia border. Amid the rising tensions, Thailand has closed its border with Cambodia.

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One of Thailand’s six F-16 fighter jets along its disputed border fired into Cambodia and destroyed a military target, according to Reuters, which cited the Thai army. The outlet added that Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense said the jets dropped two bombs on a road. The ministry said that it «strongly condemns the reckless and brutal military aggression of the Kingdom of Thailand against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cambodia,» according to Reuters.

People rest at a shelter, following recent clashes along the disputed border between the two countries, according to authorities people have been killed across three border provinces, in Surin province, Thailand, July 24, 2025. (REUTERS/Pansira Kaewplung)

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Late on Wednesday, Thailand recalled its ambassador to Cambodia and announced it would expel the ambassador from Cambodia. On Thursday, Cambodia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Thailand to the lowest level and recalled all staff from its embassy in Bangkok, the Associated Press reported. Additionally, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry demanded all Thai diplomatic staff leave the country.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he would speak to the leaders of both countries by the end of the day, according to the BBC. Malaysia is currently serving as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), putting Ibrahim in a position to mediate, as both Cambodia and Thailand are member states.

Thai soldiers

Royal Thai Army soldiers are pictured on armored vehicles on a road in Chachoengsao province on July 24, 2025.  (Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images)

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The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh advised American citizens living in or traveling near the border area to follow the directions of local security personnel. 

This comes almost exactly one month after both embassies warned U.S. citizens in their respective countries against going near the border. The State Department issued a «Level 1 with risk» travel advisory — just above the lowest level — urging Americans to exercise caution, though travel is permitted.

Troops from Cambodia reload BM-21 amid border clashes with Thailand

Cambodian soldiers reload the BM-21 multiple rocket launcher in Preah Vihear province on July 24, 2025. Thailand launched air strikes on Cambodian military targets on July 24 as Cambodia fired rockets and artillery, killing a civilian, in a dramatic escalation of a long-running border row between the two neighbors. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)

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While it is unclear how the latest clashes between Cambodia and Thailand began, the violence follows a dispute in May, during which troops from both sides exchanged fire. According to The Associated Press, both sides said they acted in self-defense and one Cambodian soldier was killed. 

Following the flare-up in May, both countries took retaliatory actions, with Thailand stopping nearly all border crossings before ultimately closing them entirely. Meanwhile, Cambodia banned Thai movies and TV.

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La hambruna en Gaza, contada por una enfermera en primera línea: “Cada semana los números son mayores”

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Naeema, una madre palestina de 30 años, sostiene a su hijo Yazan, de dos años, quien padece desnutrición en el campo de refugiados de Al-Shati (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

La enfermera Daniela de Oliveira Mota había trabajado en países con grupos armados, pero nunca había visto nada como Gaza. “Es todavía peor de lo que imaginé”, dice por teléfono a Infobae desde la Ciudad de Gaza, donde lleva dos meses como gerente de actividades de enfermería de Médicos Sin Fronteras (MSF). “Falta todo”. No se refiere solo a la destrucción visible tras 21 meses de guerra, sino a algo más profundo: la ausencia de lo más básico para la supervivencia humana.

En el centro sanitario donde trabaja —uno de los cinco que MSF opera en Gaza— atiende actualmente a más de 1.000 pacientes por desnutrición: niños de entre seis meses y cinco años, mujeres embarazadas y lactantes. “Cada semana los números son mayores”, constata. Pero admite que estas cifras son solo la punta del iceberg: “Sabemos que son muchísimos más” debido a las limitaciones de suministros y personal.

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Un médico examina a Jana
Un médico examina a Jana Ayad, una niña palestina desnutrida, mientras recibe tratamiento en el hospital de campaña del Cuerpo Médico Internacional, este martes en Deir Al-Balah. (REUTERS/Mohammed Salem)

Su testimonio ilustra una realidad que las organizaciones humanitarias llevan meses denunciando: Gaza vive una hambruna provocada. Más de 100 ONG, entre ellas MSF, Save the Children y Oxfam, advirtieron el miércoles de una “hambruna masiva” que se extiende por la Franja, donde incluso los propios trabajadores de ayuda “se están uniendo a las mismas filas para recibir alimento”.

“Antes del 7 de octubre prácticamente no existía desnutrición aguda en Gaza”, explica De Oliveira Mota. Los centros de alimentación terapéutica que ahora dirige no existían antes de la guerra. La desnutrición infantil se ha convertido en una epidemia que comienza incluso antes del nacimiento.

“Lo que más me impacta son los niños con menos de seis meses, porque [la desnutrición] empieza ya cuando la mujer está embarazada”, relata. “Tenemos muchísimas mujeres embarazadas desnutridas. Es como un ciclo que nunca para, desde antes del nacimiento”. Médicos Sin Fronteras había reportado previamente que las mujeres con seis meses de embarazo a menudo no pesan más de 40 kilos.

Los datos oficiales confirman la gravedad de la situación. Solo en las últimas 72 horas antes del testimonio de la enfermera, 21 niños murieron por desnutrición o hambre, según confirmó el director del hospital Al Shifa, en el norte de Gaza. La Agencia de Naciones Unidas para los Refugiados Palestinos (UNRWA) reporta que uno de cada diez niños menores de cinco años presenta desnutrición. El Programa de Alimentos de la ONU estima que medio millón de personas sufren la hambruna en el enclave.

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El caso que más marcó a De Oliveira Mota involucra a un bebé de 40 días que llegó con su abuelo. El padre había muerto en la guerra, la madre había abandonado al niño, y el anciano llevaba dos días dándole solo agua porque no conseguía fórmula láctea. “Me quedé en el teléfono por tres o cuatro horas llamando a diferentes organizaciones para intentar conseguir una lata de fórmula”, recuerda. “Algo que normalmente es tan simple, acá ahora es prácticamente imposible”.

En respuesta a la destrucción
En respuesta a la destrucción del sistema de salud en el norte de Gaza por parte de Israel, MSF desplegó clínicas móviles que brindan asistencia médica a la población. (MSF)

La crisis se agravó dramáticamente el 2 de marzo, cuando Israel impuso un bloqueo total que prohibió durante casi tres meses el ingreso de alimentos, agua, medicamentos y otros suministros básicos. Aunque en mayo Israel comenzó a permitir el ingreso de ayuda “mínima”, según la definió el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu, los efectos persisten.

“Sabemos que tenemos lo que necesitamos en el otro lado de la frontera”, dice De Oliveira Mota con frustración. “Hay muchísimos alimentos, suministros, todas las cosas que necesitamos están esperando para poder entrar”. Para la enfermera, “cuando hablamos de la hambruna que está pasando ahora, es intencional. Podría terminar mañana”.

Israel defiende el bloqueo como una medida para presionar al grupo terrorista Hamas a liberar a los 50 rehenes que aún mantiene del ataque del 7 de octubre de 2023, menos de la mitad de los cuales se cree que siguen vivos. El Gobierno israelí acusa a Hamas de desviar ayuda humanitaria, aunque la ONU asegura que no ha habido desviación significativa.

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Fatmeh Jundieh, una mujer palestina
Fatmeh Jundieh, una mujer palestina desplazada, se sienta dentro de una tienda de campaña, sosteniendo a uno de sus gemelos de dos meses, mientras lucha por encontrar leche de fórmula y pañales en medio de la escasez actual. (REUTERS/Ebrahim Hajjaj)

La desnutrición de las madres complica aún más el panorama. “Una buena parte de las madres están desnutridas”, explica De Oliveira Mota. “Pueden continuar, pueden lograr amamantar aun cuando están desnutridas, pero el problema no es solamente la desnutrición”. El acceso limitado al agua, las condiciones de vida en tiendas de campaña y el trauma emocional afectan la producción de leche materna, explica la profesional.

Para los bebés menores de seis meses, MSF intenta orientar la lactancia materna y tratar a las madres con suplementos nutricionales. “En los casos muy graves tenemos algunos centros de internación para referir, pero muchas veces estamos casi esperando que el niño esté en un estado peor” para poder hospitalizarlo, reconoce.

MSF tiene actualmente 700 mujeres embarazadas y lactantes y 500 niños con desnutrición grave y moderada inscritos en solo dos centros.

COGAT, la autoridad israelí responsable de coordinar la ayuda humanitaria en la Franja, afirmó que no restringe la entrada de alimentos para bebés, incluida la leche de fórmula, en la Franja de Gaza. La agencia añadió que en las últimas semanas se habían entregado más de 1.400 toneladas de alimentos para bebés en Gaza.

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Los palestinos recogen lo que
Los palestinos recogen lo que queda de los suministros de ayuda humanitaria de un centro de distribución de la Fundación Humanitaria de Gaza, respaldada por Israel y Estados Unidos, en Rafah. (REUTERS/Stringer/archivo)

La distribución de ayuda se ha convertido en otra fuente de sufrimiento. De Oliveira Mota presenció cómo llegó al servicio de urgencias un hombre atropellado por un camión de distribución de alimentos. “Aparentemente tienen una orden de las fuerzas israelíes de que el camión no puede parar hasta que llegue al punto de distribución, aun si hay personas”, explica. El hombre murió junto a su hijo de seis años.

Según la ONU, más de 1.000 palestinos han sido heridos o muertos por fuerzas israelíes mientras intentaban recoger ayuda desde finales de mayo. Para De Oliveira Mota, el sistema actual, gestionado por la Fundación Humanitaria de Gaza (GHF) con apoyo de Estados Unidos e Israel en lugar de los mecanismos tradicionales de la ONU, está “diseñado intencionalmente para crear el caos”.

“Las organizaciones humanitarias estamos acostumbradas a cómo se organiza un punto de distribución de manera segura”, explica. “Esto que están haciendo… simplemente las personas van a buscar comida y vuelven heridas de bala todos los días”.

Abed Al Raheem, pediatra de
Abed Al Raheem, pediatra de MSF, examina a un niño en la clínica de atención primaria de Mawasi Rafah, en el sur de la Franja de Gaza, Palestina.
(Nour Alsaqqa/MSF)

Los cortes eléctricos agravan la situación. Con combustible para apenas tres días, los centros médicos funcionan con generadores durante pocas horas. “Durante la noche solamente podemos tener el generador por dos o tres horas. El equipo se queda a oscuras, los pacientes también”, describe De Oliveira Mota.

A esto se suma el hambre, que también afecta a los trabajadores sanitarios. Oliveira Mota confirma que sus colegas palestinos han tenido que trabajar sin comer. “Tuvimos algunas situaciones en que los compañeros se fueron a trabajar sin comer”, dice. MSF ahora garantiza una comida diaria para su personal, pero muchos trabajadores humanitarios no pueden acceder a alimentos incluso teniendo salario porque “no hay comida en el mercado o los precios también son muy altos”.

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Los palestinos esperan para recibir
Los palestinos esperan para recibir comida de un comedor social, en medio de una crisis alimentaria, este martes en la Ciudad de Gaza. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)

Cada día, De Oliveira Mota enfrenta el dolor de no poder ofrecer respuestas completas a madres desesperadas. “Todos los días hablo con por lo menos tres pacientes que están pidiendo suplementos y no son del grupo objetivo”, dice. Cuando las madres llegan sin fórmula láctea o pañales para sus bebés desnutridos, ella intenta explicar las limitaciones: “Les digo que lo lamento mucho, que no tengo una solución ahora mismo… pero intento mirar cuáles otros apoyos podemos ofrecer a esa mujer o a esa familia”.

Para De Oliveira Mota, la situación no tiene precedentes. “Nunca, nunca hubo un bloqueo de ayuda humanitaria”, enfatiza.

El conflicto, que comenzó con el ataque terrorista de Hamas del 7 de octubre que mató a unas 1.200 personas, ha causado más de 59.000 muertes palestinas, según las autoridades de Gaza. UNICEF reporta que en 21 meses murieron más de 17.000 niños —un promedio de 28 diarios, “el equivalente de una clase entera”.

“La población civil está sufriendo muchísimo”, concluye De Oliveira Mota. “No tienen un minuto de paz. No tienen comida. No tienen seguridad. Nada en la vida está funcionando normalmente”. Su solución para acabar con el sufrimiento es clara: “Abrir las fronteras, permitir el acceso humanitario” sin restricciones. “Hay suficientes suministros, con organizaciones que saben distribuirlo de una manera segura”.

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