Gaza: UN Condemns Obstruction of Aid in the Palestinian Territory
Bombings in Bethelm, Gaza Photo: WAFA
December 24, 2024 Hour: 2:17 pm
In a damning indictment of Israel’s ongoing aggression, the United Nations has declared Gaza the most dangerous place in the world for humanitarian workers.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Deputy Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator, released a report this week revealing that Israel’s military campaign has deliberately obstructed aid deliveries, targeted humanitarian workers, and relentlessly attacked civilian infrastructure, including hospitals.
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According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Fletcher revealed that this year has seen the highest number of humanitarian workers killed by Israeli forces in history. These tragic deaths are not isolated incidents; they are the result of a systematic campaign of violence that has made it nearly impossible to deliver vital aid to the besieged population of Gaza.
The Israeli regime has consistently denied humanitarian organizations access to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, rejecting over 100 requests since October 6th alone. This calculated blockade has resulted in only a small fraction of the needed aid reaching the civilians who face a humanitarian catastrophe of unprecedented scale.
The UN official underscored that despite international condemnations and rulings by the International Court of Justice calling for civilian protection and an end to the violence, the Israeli military shows no signs of changing course. Schools, hospitals, and other essential infrastructure have been decimated.
The northern region is facing widespread famine as the Israeli siege prevents the flow of food and supplies. Overpopulation and a lack of resources have created equally dire conditions in southern Gaza, made worse by the harsh winter and relentless airstrikes on supposed “safe zones.”
The situation in the occupied West Bank is also deteriorating rapidly, with record numbers of Palestinian deaths and the destruction of vital infrastructure such as roads and water systems. Increased violence by Israeli settlers, coupled with the systematic demolition of homes, has led to a drastic increase in forced displacement and severely hindered access to essential services like healthcare.
Fletcher made a passionate call for the international community to uphold international humanitarian law and demand protection for all Palestinian civilians. “The global community must act decisively to ensure not just immediate assistance, but also justice and dignity for all inhabitants of Gaza and the West Bank,” he said. He noted that the work of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, is essential, but their operations are being severely restricted by Israel.
Fletcher also praised the brave humanitarian workers who risk their lives to help civilians in this crisis. Their work is critical for alleviating the immediate suffering and laying the foundation for lasting peace in a region marred by decades of conflict.
In addition, the Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported an alarming escalation in Israeli attacks on hospitals in northern Gaza. The health ministry has issued an urgent call for the protection of medical personnel and facilities, highlighting that the Israeli military is laying siege to and directly attacking three major hospitals: the Indonesian Hospital, the Kamal Adwan Hospital, and the al-Awda Hospital. The ministry has stated that the Israeli military is “forcing wounded and sick people to evacuate the Indonesian Hospital,” and has noted that the Kamal Adwan Hospital is being bombed without respite. This represents a continuation of the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure that aims to terrorize and destroy the population of Gaza.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: WAFA-Al Mayadeen
