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Israel bans humanitarian aid into northern Gaza amid onslaught: UN

October 21, 2024 at 5:41 pm

Humanitarian organisations distribute food packages to Palestinians who have sought refuge in the northern Gaza Strip due to Israeli attacks on August 18, 2024 [Dawoud Abo Alkas – Anadolu Agency]

Israel is not allowing humanitarian aid to enter the northern Gaza Strip, the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini, said yesterday.

In a post on X, Lazzarini said Palestinians in northern Gaza are under siege: “The Israeli Authorities continue to deny humanitarian missions to reach the north with critical supplies including medicine and food for people under siege.”

He highlighted that Israeli attacks in the area have targeted hospitals, leaving them without electricity and depriving the wounded of medical services.

Pointing to the severe overcrowding at UNRWA shelters due to the intensification of Israeli attacks, he said: “@UNRWA remaining shelters are so overcrowded, some displaced people are now forced to live in the toilets.”

Lazzarini reiterated the urgent need to allow relief agencies, including UNRWA, to access northern Gaza.

Criticising the use of humanitarian assistance as a tool for military purposes, he said: “Denying & weaponising humanitarian assistance to achieve military purposes is a sign of how low the moral compass is.”

According to multiple sources and citizens trapped in the area, the situation regarding hunger and thirst has significantly worsened in the northern part of the Strip, with the Israeli military refusing to allow trucks carrying food or aid to enter over the past 16 days.

On 5 October, Israeli occupation forces launched an unprecedented bombing campaign on the Jabalia refugee camp and surrounding areas in northern Gaza. A ground invasion began the following day under the pretext of preventing Hamas from regaining strength in the region. However, Palestinians claim that Israel seeks to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents ahead of taking over northern Gaza and making it a “buffer zone”.

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