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World must act now to help Gazans under Israeli blockade, UN chiefs urge Gaza is a 'killing field', says UN chief, as agencies urge world to act on Israel's blockade
(about 4 hours later)
Israel has blocked all goods from entering Gaza for more than a monthIsrael has blocked all goods from entering Gaza for more than a month
The heads of six UN agencies have appealed to world leaders to act urgently to make sure food and supplies get to Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has stopped letting in deliveries for more than a month. The UN's secretary-general says "aid has dried up [and] the floodgates of horror have re-opened" in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has blocked the entry of all goods and resumed the war against Hamas.
A joint statement said Palestinians were "trapped, bombed and starved again" with supplies "piling up" at crossing points. "Gaza is a killing field, and civilians are in an endless death loop," António Guterres said on Tuesday.
Israel has blocked the entry of supplies, including humanitarian aid, since 2 March, after the first stage of a ceasefire expired, demanding Hamas agree to extend that part of the truce. Hamas has refused, accusing Israel of reneging on its commitments. His comments come after the heads of six UN agencies appealed to world leaders to act urgently to ensure food and supplies reached Palestinians there.
Israel has said there is enough food in Gaza "for a long period of time", but the agencies said this was not the case. Israel has insisted there is enough food in Gaza "for a long period of time", but UN agencies refute this.
"The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza," the statement said. Israel blockaded Gaza on 2 March, after the first stage of a ceasefire expired. Hamas refused to extend that part of the truce, accusing Israel of reneging on its commitments.
Israel then renewed its aerial bombardment and ground offensive on 18 March and these have since killed 1,449 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The Israeli military insists it does not target civilians.
In his address to journalists, Guterres said Israel, as the occupying power, had obligations under international law to ensure that food and medical supplies get to the population.
"The current path is a dead end – totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history," he said.
His comments follow a joint statement issued by six UN agencies on Monday that said world leaders must act urgently to make sure food and aid supplies get to Palestinians in the Strip.
Gazans were "trapped, bombed and starved again", the statement said.
"The latest ceasefire allowed us to achieve in 60 days what bombs, obstruction and lootings prevented us from doing in 470 days of war: life-saving supplies reaching nearly every part of Gaza," it said.
"While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low.""While this offered a short respite, assertions that there is now enough food to feed all Palestinians in Gaza are far from the reality on the ground, and commodities are running extremely low."
The statement was signed by the heads of the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA); the UN's children's agency (Unicef); the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS); the World Food Programme (WFP); and the World Health Organization (WHO). The statement was signed by the heads of:
OCHA - UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Unicef - UN's children's agency
WFP - World Food Programme
WHO - World Health Organization
Unrwa - UN agency for Palestinian refugees
UNOPS - UN Office for Project Services
Because of the blockade, all UN-supported bakeries have closed, markets are empty of most fresh vegetables and hospitals are rationing painkillers and antibiotics.Because of the blockade, all UN-supported bakeries have closed, markets are empty of most fresh vegetables and hospitals are rationing painkillers and antibiotics.
The statement says that Gaza's "partially functional health system is overwhelmed [and]... Essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out." The statement says that Gaza's "partially functional health system is overwhelmed [and]... essential medical and trauma supplies are rapidly running out."
"With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld."With the tightened Israeli blockade on Gaza now in its second month, we appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld.
"Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire.""Protect civilians. Facilitate aid. Release hostages. Renew a ceasefire."
Under international humanitarian law, Israel is required to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population under its control are met. The rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian assistance must also be allowed and facilitated.
The two-month pause in fighting saw a surge in humanitarian aid let into Gaza, as well as the release by Hamas of 33 hostages - eight of them dead - in exchange for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.The two-month pause in fighting saw a surge in humanitarian aid let into Gaza, as well as the release by Hamas of 33 hostages - eight of them dead - in exchange for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel renewed its aerial bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza on 18 March.
At least five children and four adults were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah overnightAt least five children and four adults were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah overnight
On Tuesday, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said at least 58 people had been killed in the territory over the previous 24 hours.On Tuesday, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said at least 58 people had been killed in the territory over the previous 24 hours.
Israeli strikes overnight killed 19 people, including five children whose home in the central town of Deir al-Balah was hit, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.Israeli strikes overnight killed 19 people, including five children whose home in the central town of Deir al-Balah was hit, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency.
Another 11 people were reportedly killed in two separate strikes in the northern town of Beit Lahia and an area north-west of Gaza City.Another 11 people were reportedly killed in two separate strikes in the northern town of Beit Lahia and an area north-west of Gaza City.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) said a second Palestinian journalist had died of the wounds following an Israeli strike on Monday.Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) said a second Palestinian journalist had died of the wounds following an Israeli strike on Monday.
Ahmed Mansour suffered severe burns when a media tent in the southern city Khan Younis was hit, also killing his Palestine Today colleague Helmi al-Faqaawi.Ahmed Mansour suffered severe burns when a media tent in the southern city Khan Younis was hit, also killing his Palestine Today colleague Helmi al-Faqaawi.
The Israeli military said the strike targeted a third journalist, Hassan Eslaih, whom it accused of being a "Hamas terrorist". The PJS said Eslaih was in a critical condition following the attack, along with several other journalists.The Israeli military said the strike targeted a third journalist, Hassan Eslaih, whom it accused of being a "Hamas terrorist". The PJS said Eslaih was in a critical condition following the attack, along with several other journalists.
The war was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages.The war was triggered by Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages.
More than 50,810 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive since then, according to Gaza's health ministry.More than 50,810 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive since then, according to Gaza's health ministry.