UN Security Council asks Israel to do ‘more’ on Gaza aid
Council reiterates ‘concern over human toll of conflict, catastrophic humanitarian situation, and threat of imminent famine’
The UN Security Council on Thursday acknowledged Israel’s pledge to open more entry points to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza but said “more should be done” to help civilians in the besieged Palestinian territory.
In a statement, council members “took note of Israel’s announcement to open the Erez (border) crossing and allow the use of the Ashdod port for aid deliveries into Gaza, but stressed that more should be done to bring the required relief given the scale of needs in Gaza.”
Israel promised to open the Erez crossing in the north last week after a tense telephone call between Joe Biden and Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu in which the US president demanded “immediate action” on aid.
But it is understood aid trucks will not use the crossing, with Israeli media reporting that the government fears protests from far-right groups who are against
any aid reaching Gaza.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Wednesday it is planning to send food through a new crossing and a port just north of the besieged territory.
In its statement, the Security Council reiterated its “deep concern over the human toll of the conflict, the catastrophic humanitarian situation, and the threat of imminent famine in Gaza.” Council members also “called for the immediate lifting of all barriers to delivering humanitarian aid at scale to the civilian population and the unhindered distribution of such assistance.” The war in Gaza broke out after Hamas’ surprise cross-border attack on Israel on Oct.7.
In Gaza’s Nuseirat area, Imad Abu Shawish, 39, said: “The situation is dire and still getting worse, bombardment has not stopped and is still happening now. We hear the sounds of missiles falling near us before they explode, which is causing panic among my children and other family members.”
Much of Gaza has been reduced to a bomb-cratered wasteland, with yet more bodies feared under the rubble.
An Israeli siege has deprived Gaza’s 2.4 million people of most food, water, fuel, and medicines, the dire shortages only alleviated by sporadic aid deliveries.