UN condemns restrictions on aid supplies entering Gaza as winter approaches

The United Nations has warned that continued Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into the Gaza Strip as winter approaches could lead to more deaths, this time from the cold, as tens of thousands of Palestinians continue to live in flimsy tents.

Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, issued the warning on Wednesday.

“Stop this collective punishment,” Fletcher said in a statement.

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He called for all border crossings into Gaza to be opened, UN partners to be allowed to carry out their work, and commercial markets to be kept functioning.

“Fund the plan. End this predictable and preventable suffering. The world is not powerless here” to act on this,” he added.

“Foreign Ministers and partners have assured me of support, but also repeatedly said that progress would be hard until after Israeli elections. Now we’re told to wait for the formation of a Government,” the UN top official said. 

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