JERUSALEM — The United Nations has called on Israel to lift its blockade preventing aid from reaching the Gaza Strip, with the UN emergency relief coordinator describing the situation as “cruel collective punishment.” Reports from the UN indicate that a large group of Palestinians breached a UN office in Gaza late on Wednesday, scavenging for aid by taking medicines and causing damage to some vehicles, yet leaving the staff unhurt.
Following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement in March, Israel has maintained a block on humanitarian support entering Gaza. This blockade has exacerbated what many believe to be the gravest humanitarian crisis in the region in nearly 19 months of conflict. Israel claims that the blockade and military offensives aim to push Hamas to release hostages and disarm.
The ongoing conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched an attack on southern Israel, resulting in about 1,200 casualties, largely civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. Currently, Hamas is reportedly holding 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive, following previous releases through negotiations.
As Israeli strikes continue to barrage Gaza, the territory’s Health Ministry reported 18 additional deaths and numerous injuries. Responding to the ongoing deprivation, a UN organization noted the lootings were motivated by desperate circumstances. An official from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) attributed the chaos to the dire consequences of enduring deprivation and systemic failure.
The breach at the UNRWA’s field office further damaged some vehicles, yet there were no physical injuries to the staff. Health Ministry figures suggest the death toll in Gaza stands at over 52,000, with more than 2,200 fatalities occurring only since the March ceasefire breakdown. Israeli strikes have been relentlessly targeting civilian areas, and casualty numbers include a significant number of women and children.
Meanwhile, the UN stated that over 3,000 aid trucks with essential supplies are stalled at Gaza’s border. The blockade denies access to aid that could save countless children’s lives. Calling for the blockade to be lifted, a senior UN official emphasized that humanitarian aid should not be manipulated as leverage and that obstructing assistance endangers civilians’ lives, depriving them of dignity and hope.
Stringent shortages of basic necessities are leading to growing issues like malnutrition, particularly among pregnant and breastfeeding women, with newborns being born underweight. While Israel offers alternative plans to manage aid distribution, such proposals fall short of the UN’s humanitarian standards, according to Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
The international community is urging for change, with the United Kingdom echoing calls to let aid into Gaza, voicing concerns over the collapsing healthcare system. The UK emphasizes that medical supplies must be permitted entry and medical personnel safeguarded.
Continued airstrikes in Gaza, from Wednesday night into Thursday, raised the region’s overall death toll to over 52,400, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The strike on Khan Younis reported 18 deaths, including women and children, as the humanitarian crisis deteriorates further. The ongoing conflict demands urgent international attention to mitigate its impact on civilian lives.