In a powerful denunciation, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday laid blame for the “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid squarely on “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of the essentials for survival. His strong words underscore the profound humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip, where desperate civilians are paying the ultimate price for a lack of access to basic necessities.
The dire situation is compounded by the temporary shutdown of aid operations by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group with US and Israeli backing. This closure follows a series of lethal incidents near their distribution centers, including a harrowing event on Tuesday where 27 individuals were killed in southern Gaza after Israeli troops opened fire near a GHF aid site. The Israeli military is investigating the incident, but concerns about civilian safety are paramount.
Fletcher highlighted the grim reality on the ground, noting that emergency medical teams are treating hundreds of trauma cases, with dozens declared dead after Israeli forces opened fire. He stressed that these are not isolated events but rather the direct outcome of a deliberate strategy to deny sustenance to two million people. The UN’s frustration with the impediments to aid delivery is palpable.
Echoing UN chief Antonio Guterres, Fletcher demanded immediate independent investigations and accountability for those responsible. He also urged for the lifting of the “more than two-month total blockade” on Gaza, which has reduced aid to a “trickle,” and insisted on the UN’s ability to deliver aid effectively if granted full access and a ceasefire.
