Israelis ‘blocked aid for Gazans’

GAZA STRIP: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Israel had definitively barred it from making aid deliveries in northern Gaza, where the threat of famine is highest.

“Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli authorities informed the UN they will no longer approve any @UNRWA food convoys to the north,” agency head Philippe Lazzarini said on X.

“This is outrageous and makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine.”

UNRWA director of communications Juliette Touma told AFP the decision had been relayed in a meeting with Israeli military officials on Sunday.

It followed two denials in writing for aid convoy deliveries to the north last week.

No reason for the decision was given, Ms Touma said.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Gaza faces dire humanitarian conditions as a result of Israel’s war against Hamas that began nearly six months ago, triggered by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Last week a UN-backed food security assessment warned that famine was projected to hit the north of Gaza by May unless there was urgent intervention.

UNRWA has not been able to deliver food to the north since January, Ms Touma said.

“The latest decision is another nail in the coffin” for efforts to get desperately needed aid to Gazans reeling from war, she added.

Martin Griffiths, head of the UN humanitarian co-ordination office, said on X on Sunday that UNRWA “is the beating heart of the humanitarian response in Gaza”.

“The decision to block its food convoys to the north only pushes thousands closer to famine. It must be revoked,” he said.

World Health Organisation chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that blocking UNRWA aid deliveries was “denying starving people the ability to survive”.

Israel has accused UNRWA staff of participating in the October 7 attack and called the agency “a front for Hamas”.