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| Gaza is a 'killing field', says UN chief, as agencies urge world to act on Israel's blockade | Gaza is a 'killing field', says UN chief, as agencies urge world to act on Israel's blockade |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Israel has blocked all goods from entering Gaza for more than a month | Israel has blocked all goods from entering Gaza 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. | 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. |
| "Gaza is a killing field, and civilians are in an endless death loop," António Guterres said on Tuesday. | "Gaza is a killing field, and civilians are in an endless death loop," António Guterres said on Tuesday. |
| 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. | 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's foreign ministry insisted there was enough food in Gaza and accused Guterres of "spreading slander against Israel". | |
| 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 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. | 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. | 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. | "The current path is a dead end – totally intolerable in the eyes of international law and history," he said. |
| Responding to the comments, Israel's foreign ministry said there was no aid shortage in Gaza. | |
| "As always, you don't let the facts get in the way when spreading slander against Israel," spokesman Oren Marmorstein said. | |
| "There is no shortage of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip - over 25,000 aid trucks have entered the Gaza Strip in the 42 days of the cease fire," he added. | |
| Guterres's comments followed 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. | 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. | "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 statement was signed by the heads of: |
| OCHA - UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs | OCHA - UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
| Unicef - UN's children's agency | Unicef - UN's children's agency |
| WFP - World Food Programme | WFP - World Food Programme |
| WHO - World Health Organization | WHO - World Health Organization |
| Unrwa - UN agency for Palestinian refugees | Unrwa - UN agency for Palestinian refugees |
| UNOPS - UN Office for Project Services | 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." |
| 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. |
| At least five children and four adults were reportedly killed in an Israeli strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah overnight | At 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. |