United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric announced Monday that Israeli authorities, the occupying power, have obstructed critical humanitarian initiatives in Gaza, rejecting three out of eight UN relief missions just one day prior.
Dujarric, speaking at the UN’s daily press briefing, emphasized the alarming scale of deprivation in the besieged enclave: “One in every three people in Gaza has gone days without food.”
He urged Israel to immediately and unconditionally open all crossings to facilitate aid delivery and fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Fuel, described by Dujarric as a “lifeline for survival”, continues to be withheld, exacerbating the crisis and impeding essential services.
“Israeli authorities are still blocking humanitarian efforts,” he said, underscoring the urgent need for unimpeded access and timely distribution of aid.
Since Israel violated the ceasefire on March 18 and resumed the genocide in Gaza, over 700,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced multiple times, with no safe refuge available.
The ongoing attacks have rendered Gaza’s civilian infrastructure nearly inoperable and pushed the population toward famine.
The UN reiterated its condemnation of acts of genocide carried out by Israel since October 7, 2023, encompassing deliberate killings, forced starvation, destruction of infrastructure, and mass displacement, all in defiance of global appeals and binding orders from the International Court of Justice.
According to humanitarian reports, the campaign has resulted in approximately 194,000 casualties, mostly women and children, with over 10,000 missing and widespread hunger claiming the lives of dozens of children.
