The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, delivered a searing condemnation on Wednesday, asserting that the “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid are a direct consequence of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” two million people of survival essentials. His accusation highlights the severity of the humanitarian crisis and suggests a deliberate policy of starvation.
Further complicating the already dire situation, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed aid group, announced the temporary suspension of its operations. This decision follows a series of deadly incidents near its distribution sites, including a Tuesday attack that killed 27 people in southern Gaza. The Israeli army has also designated roads leading to distribution centers as “combat zones,” creating immense logistical hurdles for aid.
Fletcher noted that emergency medical teams have been overwhelmed, treating hundreds of trauma cases, with dozens declared dead after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire. He stressed that these are “not isolated incidents” and that “perpetrators must be held accountable,” signaling the UN’s demand for justice and an end to impunity.
The UN and major aid groups have refrained from cooperating with the GHF due to concerns about its alignment with Israeli military objectives. Fletcher reiterated the UN’s capacity and readiness to deliver aid, urging for the opening of all crossings, the lifting of restrictions on aid volume and type, and the implementation of a ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.