The United Nations has raised concerns over the delivery of essential aid to Gaza, with the top UN humanitarian official accusing Israel of obstructing aid efforts. The US ambassador has also called on Israel to address the dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory.
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, it was highlighted that northern Gaza is facing a severe humanitarian emergency, exacerbated by the lack of food supplies. The US has given Israel a 30-day ultimatum to ramp up aid efforts, including sending 350 trucks of food and aid daily into Gaza.
Israel's ambassador defended the country's humanitarian actions, stating that over 1 million tons of aid, including 700,000 tons of food, have been delivered to Gaza since the recent military operation. He criticized the focus on Gaza's humanitarian situation, emphasizing the targeting of Israeli civilians by hostile forces.
The UN aid official painted a grim picture of the situation in northern Gaza, where food scarcity is a pressing issue due to ongoing conflict. She highlighted challenges in aid delivery, with only a fraction of humanitarian missions being facilitated without delays.
The Palestinian ambassador accused Israel of besieging and starving hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza, labeling it as genocide. The US ambassador acknowledged some progress in aid delivery by Israel but stressed the need for further actions to alleviate the crisis.
Calls were made at the Security Council meeting for decisive action to end the prolonged conflict in Gaza. Despite previous resolutions and cease-fire demands, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, prompting urgent intervention.
The focus moving forward will be on enhancing humanitarian aid, ensuring safe delivery routes, and ultimately resolving the conflict to alleviate the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
