The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Tom Fletcher, on Wednesday blasted the current restrictions on aid into Gaza, stating that the “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid are a direct result of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of essentials. His high-level condemnation underscores the urgency of easing aid flows.
His remarks come as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group operating aid sites, announced the temporary closure of its facilities. This decision follows a string of deadly incidents near its distribution centers, including a Tuesday attack that killed 27 people in southern Gaza. The Israeli army has also warned that roads to these centers are “considered combat zones.”
Fletcher noted that emergency medical teams have confirmed treating hundreds of trauma cases, with dozens declared dead at hospitals after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire. He stressed that these are “not isolated incidents” and that “perpetrators must be held accountable,” underscoring the UN’s demand for justice.
The UN and major aid groups have expressed reservations about cooperating with the GHF, fearing 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.