Gaza: The United Nations’ top humanitarian official has issued a strong warning over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling Israel’s blockade a form of “cruel collective punishment.”
In a statement released on Thursday, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher condemned Israel’s ongoing restrictions on aid, which have prevented food, water, and medical supplies from reaching the 2.3 million residents of Gaza. Fletcher stated that the blockade is stripping civilians of basic survival needs and violating international humanitarian law.
The blockade, now in its third month, has pushed Gaza’s hospitals to the brink of collapse and left children and families without access to critical care or sufficient nutrition. Aid organizations report that they are being denied entry into the region, while warehouses stand empty and relief trucks are halted at border crossings.
“The deliberate obstruction of humanitarian assistance is a moral and legal outrage,” Fletcher said. “No justification can excuse denying people the essentials to live.”
The call from the UN follows growing global concern over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where ongoing conflict and the lack of aid have created what agencies describe as a rapidly escalating humanitarian disaster. Hospitals report rising fatalities due to shortages of medicine, while the World Food Programme warns of severe malnutrition and starvation risks.
Fletcher also reminded member states of their obligation under international law to allow unimpeded access to humanitarian relief, noting that failure to comply not only endangers lives but also undermines any efforts toward peace in the region.
As the crisis deepens, international pressure is mounting on Israel to lift the blockade and permit immediate and sustained delivery of aid to Gaza’s civilian population.
