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26 May 2025

Time’s being wasted on politics of aid while deaths mount in Gaza, warns senior official

The UN already has a proven system to deliver assistance to people in Gaza and will not take part in any plan that does not uphold universally established humanitarian principles, a spokesperson for aid coordination office OCHA affirmed. “There's been so much time wasted talking about the various proposals and the various plans. In the meantime, people are dying and are left without aid,” Olga Cherevko said in an exclusive interview with UN News.This week, UN agencies were able to bring limited amounts of food, flour and other items into Gaza after Israel lifted a nearly three-month aid blockade. Ms. Cherevko said humanitarians were told this was a temporary measure until aid distribution is implemented through the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an initiative backed by Israel and the United States. The plan sees aid dispersed from four points south of the Netzarim Corridor, which is under Israeli military control, and involves the use of private US contractors. She discussed this development, the positive impact of the trickle of aid allowed into Gaza, and the need to scale up efforts.“There is a sense that some people feel like this is the end and that there is no turning back – and that they are just waiting to die,” she said.This interview has been edited for length and clarityOlga Cherevko: We've been speaking about this and other proposals and plans. Our concerns are that any distribution of aid, any system that exists, needs to be in line with globally established humanitarian principles. And if it isn’t, it’s not something that we can be involved in.We have concerns about the scalability of this proposed plan, and about various other parts of it. The biggest issue is that we have a plan, and we have a system that we are using as we speak, and the system has been tried over various crises across the world. It has been proven to work, it has mechanisms to mitigate theft, to mitigate diversion and it ensures that it reaches people wherever they are. So, there’s been so much time wasted talking about the various proposals and the various plans. In the meantime, people are dying and are left without aid. UN News: The UN definitely will not be taking part in this plan, but did you receive any indications that you will be able to proceed with the work that you’ve been doing over the past couple of days?Olga Cherevko: For the time being it’s unclear because obviously the resumption of limited volumes of aid entering that the Israeli authorities have approved as of a few days ago, we were obviously assured that we would be using our mechanisms - so the ones that were using now, the ones that are already in place. We were informed that this would be an interim measure until this Foundation starts working. At this point, we really don’t have more details and again, it will have to be seen on the ground how things will develop.UN News: Were any trucks allowed in today and was more aid distributed? Olga Cherevko: There have been batches of trucks coming in since this decision to allow them was approved. We have already been able to get some of the aid to the people in need, including getting flour to bakeries, and a number of bakeries have resumed their operations and fired up their ovens. We also had some partners who picked up the bread for direct distribution. A field hospital also received a batch of medical supplies. These are obviously very positive steps and positive developments in the right direction, but the volume of this aid is literally a drop in the ocean compared to the extent of needs on the ground. UN News: We heard that most, if not all, of the supplies that were allowed in yesterday were nutritional and food aid. Is this a new development that some medical supplies were allowed in today? How many people can be served with these food items and medical supplies?Olga Cherevko: The medical supplies were always part of the agreement to be included. But again, this is something that in itself is limiting because at the moment what is being allowed is things like nutrition, flour, some medicines and a few other things. It has to be a full range of things for us to be able to really deliver assistance at scale.In terms of how many people it will serve, you can compare the kind of volumes that we were having during the ceasefire to what we have now and you will see that it's woefully insufficient. But we have enough food alone to feed people for several months waiting at the crossings.UN News: The World Food Programme (WFP) said 15 of its trucks were looted. Can you tell us what’s being done to prevent looting?Olga Cherevko: Regarding looting and break-ins or whatever to try to divert or take aid - if you look at the numbers of these kinds of incidents before the ceasefire and during the ceasefire you will see a huge change. There were barely any such incidents during the weeks of the ceasefire when we were able to bring in these large volumes (of aid). When the ceasefire broke down and the crossings were closed for the entry of any cargo, and we got to the point where we were really in a desperate situation and we were running low on everything, that is when they started again. UN News: Let’s go back to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. As the four distribution points are going to be south of the Netzarim Corridor – reportedly one in Middle Gaza and the others in the south – are you already starting to see movements towards those areas? What are your concerns about displacement?Olga Cherevko: Our concerns about displacement are what they have always been. Obviously, we would never support any sort of forced displacement, or any type of ethnic cleansing, or anything that would forcibly drive people from the areas where they are.Before the ceasefire, more than 90 per cent of people were forcibly displaced across Gaza and they were being squeezed into an increasingly smaller piece of land. When the ceasefire happened a lot of them went back. They tried to restart their lives and they kind of had a bit of time to process what’s been happening. When the ceasefire broke down again on 18 March, we saw another 610,000 people displaced again. These types of displacement are getting more and more dangerous and desperate because people are coming with nothing. People are fleeing with just the shirt on their back.We're now hearing and seeing people sleeping in the streets because there’s nowhere for them to go. As we've said time and time again, there is no safe place in Gaza, and this has been proven time and time again. UN News: You’ve been back and forth to Gaza for quite some time now, and you've seen the suffering first-hand. Can you give our audience an idea of what it means in real-life terms when aid is prevented from reaching those in need?Olga Cherevko: Something that has always stuck me about the Palestinians in Gaza is their resilience and their strength, and the spirit that they have kept throughout these months of war. I knew Gaza well before because I used to work there for several years starting from 2014, and knowing how people have endured so much suffering and despite that they find the strength to go, they find the strength to smile at you and to offer you tea or anything that they might still have. Now when I speak to people, the thing that is most devastating is that there is a sense that some people feel like this is the end and that there is no turning back and that they are just waiting to die.Before this limited aid was allowed to enter, the remaining operating community kitchens would have hundreds of people huddled around them waiting for hours with empty pots. Many were told to turn back because there's no food for them. People were telling me that they weren't eating for several days at a time. I saw children that are being malnourished, and suffering from malnutrition. These kinds of things are very preventable, and preventable deaths are happening all around us because of this intentional crisis imposed on Gaza by closing the crossings. And that is the most frustrating thing for me - knowing that we can quickly address these issues if only we were given the opportunity – because we have everything waiting outside of Gaza to come in. , filtered_html

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23 May 2025

All eyes on Gaza as aid teams retrieve first lifesaving relief in months

“Today will be crucial. Truckloads of lifesaving aid finally on move again,” said top UN aid relief coordinator Tom Fletcher.Hours earlier and in a major development, 198 trucks entered Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing in the south of the enclave, carrying nutrition supplies, medicines and wheat flour.Announcing the news online, Mr. Fletcher reported that humanitarian organizations then retrieved “about 90 truckloads of goods” in a night-time operation to prepare them for distribution.But significant challenges remain “in loading and dispatching goods” Mr. Fletcher continued, citing security and looting concerns, “delays in coordination approvals and inappropriate routes being provided by Israeli forces that are not viable for the movement of cargo”.Until earlier this week, no commercial or humanitarian supplies had been allowed into Gaza since 2 March, deepening an already catastrophic hunger crisis and sparking widespread condemnation from the international community.According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO) at least 57 children have reportedly died from the effects of malnutrition, according to the local health authorities. The number is likely an underestimate and is expected to increase if the aid blockade continues. In their latest report, respected and UN-partnered food insecurity experts warned that nearly 71 000 children under the age of five are expected to be acutely malnourished over the next 11 months unless Gazans can access sufficient food and healthcare support.Working through the nightVideo footage published online Thursday by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) showed aid crews hurrying to offload sacks of flour from trucks at a floodlit warehouse.Elsewhere in the storage hangar, other images showed large quantities of dough being made in an industrial mixer.“Our teams are working non-stop to get bakeries running again,” the agency said, referring to the 25 facilities it had to close on 31 March when wheat flour and fuel ran out. “But it's nowhere near enough to support everyone in need. We need more trucks, more food, in now,” the UN agency warned.After 19 months of constant Israeli bombardment which continues today, one in five Gazans faces starvation, food insecurity experts have warned.And reiterating the urgent need for more lifesaving supplies to enter the shattered enclave, the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, stressed that much more aid will be needed to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.No fuel allowed inNo hygiene products or fuel have been allowed into the enclave by the Israeli authorities, the UN agency noted.“The UN and its partners have been engaging with the Israeli authorities to identify the best possible route from Kerem Shalom onward into Gaza to ensure the flow of aid is not disrupted or suspended,” OCHA explained in its latest update. “Partners are in touch with community leaders in Gaza to mitigate the risk of looting and ensure that the supplies entering Gaza reach the people who rely on them.”Meanwhile, Gazans continue to contend with daily bombardment and shelling across the Strip, with dozens reported killed on Tuesday.A day later, OCHA noted that the health authorities on an urgent request for blood donors to treat the sick and injured.“Amid the hostilities, large numbers of people continue to be displaced – once again fleeing for their lives amid intense bombing of their communities and with no safe place to seek shelter or supplies,” the UN agency said.It reported that a full 80 per cent of Gaza is either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones which require aid teams to coordinate their movements with the Israeli authorities.“Partners report that over the past few days, almost half of people newly displaced have fled with none of their belongings,” OCHA said. “The ongoing displacement of Gaza’s population is putting immense pressure on humanitarian teams, especially when there is no food or other basic supplies to offer.” , filtered_html

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22 May 2025

Gaza: Aid trucks still waiting for Israeli green light inside enclave

UN aid workers said that they are still waiting for permission from Israel to distribute five trucks worth of lifesaving relief that was allowed into Gaza at the start of the week, after an 11-week blockade.Existing supplies of basic necessities have been running dangerously low and on Wednesday the UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, said that its nutrition stocks to prevent increasing malnutrition “are almost gone”.“Humanitarian assistance is being weaponised to serve and support political and military objectives,” said Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.Speaking at the European Humanitarian Forum, Mr. Lazzarini insisted that significant stocks of aid remain blocked at the enclave’s borders.“UNRWA is a lifeline for people in face of immense needs,” he said, noting that the whole humanitarian community in Gaza remains ready to scale up the delivery of critical supplies and services.The development comes a day after UN humanitarians said that they had been allowed to send “around 100” more aid trucks loaded with supplies into Gaza. It is understood that several dozen additional trucks entered the enclave on Tuesday at Kerem Shalom where they await further Israeli permissions before the aid they are carrying can move further into Gaza.Too little, too lateWhile such a move would be welcome in light of the desperate humanitarian emergency created by Israel’s total blockade, relief teams have pointed out that this would be a fraction of the 500 trucks that entered the enclave every day before the war erupted in Gaza in October 2023.Today, one in five Gazans faces starvation, according to respected food security experts from the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification platform – or IPC.UN agencies have repeatedly stressed that they have stockpiles of relief supplies ready to enter Gaza.After 80 days of total blockade of humanitarian assistance, families in Palestine have been pushed to the brink of starvation, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Wednesday.Conditions on the ground are horrific and putting more than two million lives at risk, it insisted, while more than 130,000 tonnes of food wait at border crossings.“WFP is doing everything possible to get the necessary permissions and clearances to bring in at least 100 trucks a day with emergency food and other aid in the coming days,” said Antoine Renard, Country Director WFP Palestine. “This can only happen if we have immediate access and safe delivery guaranteed.But he warned that even 100 trucks a day would only meet “the very minimum” of people’s food needs for the month: “On the ground, the situation is growing more desperate and the risk of insecurity and looting of human goods becomes even greater, as we speak a bag of wheat flour costs $500 in Gaza.”Economic ‘paralysis’Across Gaza, the daily struggle to find food and water continues because of the Israeli blockade of all commercial and humanitarian access.Markets are “severely paralyzed”, supply chains have collapsed and prices have spiked, WFP said.“The population is now facing extreme levels of poor dietary diversity, with most people unable to access even the most basic food groups,” the UN agency warned in its latest update on Gaza.“Several essential food items, including eggs and frozen meat, have disappeared from the market,” it said. “Wheat flour has reached exorbitant prices, with increases of over 3,000 per cent compared to pre-conflict levels and more than 4,000 per cent” compared to the ceasefire period from January to March.While the Gazan economy is now in “near-total paralysis”, the West Bank is also staring down a deep recession, with combined overall output shrunk by 27 per cent.Given that this is the deepest contraction in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in over a generation, WFP cited projections that Gaza will require 13 years to recover to pre-crisis levels and the West Bank three years.Occupied West Bank demolitions continueIn the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, demolitions of Palestinian property have continued on a daily basis, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Wednesday.It reported new destruction of a park, a public hall and a swimming pool earlier this week in Beit Sahur, Shu'fat and Nahhalin.“This is an area that the settlers have been seeing and observing for a while to take over,” said OHCHR head of office in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ajith Sunghay.He explained that Palestinian properties are demolished every day on the grounds that they do not have Israeli building permits – even though these are next to impossible for Palestinians to obtain.Every day, meanwhile, Israeli settlers install “new outposts which encroach on Palestinian lands…as a calculated tactic to displace Palestinians and consolidate the annexation of West Bank”, Mr. Sunghay told UN News."There is an international Court of Justice advisory opinion, which asks the Israelis to end the occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory as soon as possible…The harm that it causes to the Palestinians on their daily lives, on their family’s lives, on their rights is immeasurable and this is happening by the hour.”According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, Israeli settlers have damaged water infrastructure in the West Bank more than 60 times since the start of the year. 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22 May 2025

UN alarmed after warning shots fired at foreign diplomats in the West Bank

Media reports said soldiers fired warning shots near the diplomats, who were on an official visit to view humanitarian conditions around the camp where a major Israeli military operation has been ongoing since January. The mission was hosted by the Palestinian Authority and approved by Israel, however it strayed from the approved route, media reports said, citing a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Diplomats from more than 20 countries were in the group, along with staff from the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA. No injuries were reported.Diplomats must be respectedUN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric was asked about the incident during his regular media briefing from New York. He said Secretary-General António Guterres was alarmed by reports that “the IDF fired what they called warning shots” at diplomatic and UN personnel.“It is clear that diplomats who are doing their work should never be shot at, attacked in any way, shape or form, and their safety, their inviolability, must be respected at all times,” he said.“Any use of force against them is unacceptable, and we urge the Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, to share those findings with us, and to take any measures that would prevent any other such incident to take place.”‘Lax use of excessive force’UNRWA Director of Affairs in the West Bank, Roland Friedrich, spoke out against the Israeli military’s actions.“This incident is a stark reminder of the lax use of excessive force routinely deployed by Israeli Security Forces in the West Bank, often with lethal consequences,” he said in a tweet.He noted that “while the West Bank is not a war zone,” 137 Palestinians have been killed there since January in occupation-related violence.“The IDF has said they are investigating the incident. However, claims such as ‘mistakenly identifying [the delegation] as a threat’ and firing ‘warning shots’ do not fully capture the severity of today's events,” he said.“This raises serious concerns over the way rules of engagement are applied to unarmed civilians,” he added.Meanwhile, several countries have voiced their condemnation. Germany’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling for Israel to investigate the matter.“The Federal Foreign Office strongly condemns this unprovoked fire. We can count ourselves lucky that nothing more serious occurred,” it said.Jenin camp situationThe UN continues to highlight the situation at the Jenin camp and elsewhere in the West Bank. Mr. Friedrich said access to the camp “has been near-impossible” since Israel launched Operation ‘Iron Wall’ on 21 January. All residents have been forcibly displaced and UNRWA services there have been fully suspended. He called for safe humanitarian access to the camp to be restored, while those displaced must be allowed to return immediately.  , filtered_html

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21 May 2025

UN life-saving aid allowed to trickle into Gaza as needs mount

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said. He stressed that the assistance must be delivered swiftly and directly to those most in need.He told journalists in New York that UN humanitarians were sending flour, medicines, nutrition supplies and other basic items through the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing – a day after they managed to bring in baby formula and other nutrition supplies. “The first trucks of vital baby food are now inside Gaza after 11 weeks of total blockade, and it is urgent that we get that assistance distributed. We need much, much more to cross,” he said, speaking from New York.Complex aid operation In the face of mounting international objections over the total blockade imposed on 2 March – and condemnation over the risk of widespread famine – Israel started to allow a handful of aid trucks to enter Gaza on Monday, while simultaneously intensifying its military offensive. The aid blockade has pushed the entire population, more than two million people, to the brink of famine, amid ongoing bombardment and recurrent displacement orders.The UN humanitarian affairs office OCHA said Israel cleared nine aid trucks to cross the Kerem Shalom border on Monday, but only five were allowed in.Mr. Dujarric said Israel requires supplies to be offloaded on the Palestinian side of Kerem Shalom. Items are then reloaded separately once the authorities secure humanitarian teams’ access from inside Gaza.“Only then are we able to bring any supplies closer to where people in need are sheltering,” he said.On Tuesday, one of the UN teams waited for several hours before being given the green light.“So, just to make it clear, while more supplies have come into the Gaza Strip, we have not been able to secure the arrival of those supplies into our warehouses and delivery points,” he said.UN humanitarians have received permission from Israel for “around 100” more aid trucks to cross into the Strip, but they said the scale of relief efforts allowed remains entirely insufficient.Ready and waiting“Not enough. Five trucks, nowhere near. Not enough,” said Louise Wateridge, a spokesperson for the UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA, in reference to Monday’s trickle of aid. She was speaking to journalists in Geneva from a warehouse full of ready-to-be-delivered supplies in Amman, Jordan, with enough food to feed 200,000 Palestinian civilians for an entire month. “Everything around me is aid that is supposed to be in the Gaza Strip right now,” she explained, as warehouses and distribution centres lay empty in Gaza. “Look at what the UN could do,” she continued. “We've done it: the ceasefire, the bombs stopped, the supplies went in. We reached every area of the Gaza Strip. We reached people who needed it most. We reached children. We reached the elderly. The supplies went everywhere.”Scarcity fuels lootingAs aid is scarce, desperation is on the rise in Gaza, with “several predictable effects,” according to OCHA Spokesperson Jens Laerke. “One is that the insufficient supplies are at greater risk of being looted,” he told journalists in Geneva.He said looted products end up being sold at exorbitant prices on the black market, and opening access for large quantities of aid would automatically ease the situation. Deadly attacks and displacementMeanwhile, hundreds have been killed in attacks in recent days, according to the Gaza health authorities. They also report that the Indonesian Hospital was attacked on Monday, damaging electrical generators and forcing the facility to suspend services. Fifty-five people were there as of that day, including patients and medical staff, with critical shortages of water and food.Furthermore, an Israeli airstrike reportedly hit a school in An Nuseirat area on Monday, killing seven people and injuring others. Two UNRWA staff members were among those killed. Their deaths push the total number of agency personnel killed during the war to over 300.In other developments: Israel issued another displacement order on Tuesday, affecting 26 neighbourhoods in northern Gaza. Overall, some 80 per cent of the Gaza Strip is now either subject to displacement orders or located in Israeli-militarized zones.UN partners estimate that more than 41,000 people were displaced following the evacuation order on Tuesday. They further estimate that since 15 May, more than 57,000 people were displaced in southern Gaza and more than 81,000 were displaced in the north due to intensified hostilities and recurrent displacement orders.Israeli military operations in Gaza were triggered after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023. Militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages to Gaza. Fifty-eight hostages are still being held captive; 23 are believed to still be alive. , filtered_html

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20 May 2025

UN relief chief welcomes limited Gaza aid resumption – but it’s a ‘drop in the ocean’

but significantly more is needed “starting tomorrow morning”.Tom Fletcher said in a statement on Monday that nine UN trucks were cleared to enter the southern Kerem Shalom crossing earlier in the day.“But it is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed…We have been reassured that our work will be facilitated through existing, proven mechanisms. I am grateful for that reassurance, and Israel’s agreement to humanitarian notification measures that reduce the immense security threats of the operation.”Alarm over Israeli bombardment: UN chiefThe UN Secretary-General on Monday expressed his alarm over the intensifying air strikes and ground operations in Gaza “which have resulted in the killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians in recent days, including many women and children, and, of course, large-scale evacuation orders.”António Guterres reiterated his call for the rapid, safe, and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale directly to civilians, in order to avert famine, alleviate widespread suffering, and prevent further loss of life.Briefing reporters on Monday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Mr. Guterres “welcomes the ongoing efforts by the mediators to reach a deal in Gaza. He has repeatedly warned that the continued violence and the destruction will only compound civilian suffering and heighten the risk of a broader regional conflict.”He added that the Secretary-General “firmly rejects any forced displacement of the Palestinian population.”Minimise risk of aid theftRelief chief Fletcher said in his statement that he was determined to ensure UN aid reaches those in greatest need and make sure that any risk of theft by Hamas or other militants battling Israeli forces in the Strip amid a new offensive, would be minimised.He said the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, had realistic expectations: “Given ongoing bombardment and acute hunger levels, the risks of looting and insecurity are significant.”UN aid workers are committed to doing their jobs, “even against these odds,” he said, thanking humanitarian colleagues for their courage and determination.Practical plan“The limited quantities of aid now being allowed into Gaza are of course no substitute for unimpeded access to civilians in such dire need,” Mr. Fletcher continued.“The UN has a clear, principled and practical plan to save lives at scale, as I set out last week.”He called on Israeli authorities to:Open at least two crossings into Gaza, in the north and southSimplify and expedite procedures together with removing quotas limiting aidLift access impediments and cease military operations when and where aid is being deliveredAllow UN teams to cover the whole range of needs – food, water, hygiene, shelter, health, fuel and gas for cookingReady to respondMr. Fletcher said to reduce looting, there must be a regular flow of aid, and humanitarians must be permitted to use multiple routes.“We are ready and determined to scale up our life-saving operation Gaza and respond to the needs of people, wherever they are,” he stressed - calling again for the protection of civilians, a resumption of the ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.He concluded saying the operation would be tough – “but the humanitarian community will take any opening we have.”, filtered_html

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16 May 2025

Gaza: New displacement orders force thousands to flee as famine looms

The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said. In addition to ongoing bombardment, Israel issued another three displacement orders over the past two days, covering seven per cent of the total area of the territory. Overall, some 71 per cent of the Gaza Strip is under displacement orders or in Israeli-militarized zones, where the Israeli authorities require humanitarian teams to coordinate their movements. “These displacement orders come as populations across Gaza are at risk of famine and one in every five people faces starvation,” the agency said.Thousands uprootedEvacuation orders announced on Thursday have impacted thousands of residents in 10 neighbourhoods in Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis, OCHA reported.Initial assessment indicates that the affected area includes eight wells, five reservoirs, seven humanitarian warehouses, three health clinics and other critical facilities. Furthermore, displacement orders issued on Wednesday for six neighbourhoods in North Gaza governorate overlap with parts of zones covered under orders issued the previous day.“According to preliminary estimates, the newly impacted area is home to approximately 100,000 people,” OCHA said. Some 30 sites for internally displaced people, six temporary learning spaces serving approximately 700 students, and several water and sanitation facilities have been affected.Fleeing families returnHumanitarian partners report that several hundred families fled parts of the designated areas on Wednesday, however dozens have since returned due to lack of space and shelter. Another displacement order was also issued that same day for parts of the Rimal area of Gaza City.OCHA further reported that Israeli forces hit another school-turned-shelter run by the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, in the Nuseirat area of Deir Al-Balah on Wednesday. No injuries were reported.Humanitarians committed to deliverMeanwhile, the UN and partners on the ground are committed to stay and deliver in the Gaza Strip despite the mounting challenges. On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) evacuated 284 patients and their companions from the European Gaza Hospital in Khan Younis to Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli forces hit the hospital premises twice one day prior to the scheduled evacuation. European Gaza Hospital is no longer functional following the attack, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a tweet on Thursday.“The hospital’s closure has cut off vital services including neurosurgery, cardiac care, and cancer treatment—all unavailable elsewhere in Gaza,” he said.He added that another strike near the Indonesian Hospital “spread fear, disrupted access, and raised the risk of closure.” Tedros underlined that “hospitals must be protected”, saying “they must never be militarized or targeted.”Time is of the essenceMore than two months have passed since Israel implemented a full blanket ban on the entry of cargo into the Gaza Strip, including aid and other life-saving supplies, which continues to drive hunger and deprivation. UN teams report that the number of hot meals provided by community kitchens has fallen from one million to just 249,000 a day.OCHA Spokesperson Olga Cherevko told UN News that the situation will continue to worsen as supplies run down, forcing more kitchens to close.“People are terrified and are telling me every day that they don't know how they will survive,” she said.“I have passed several kitchens in the past few days where crowds of people were standing with empty pots and despair in their faces, and these people were being told to go home because all the food had run out for that day.”The UN and partners have 9,000 truckloads of vital supplies ready to move into Gaza, including food assistance to feed millions for months. Thousands more trucks full of aid are on standby.OCHA reiterated that as long as the full blockade is not immediately lifted, the already limited assistance available will shrink even further, warning “time is of essence to prevent further death.” , filtered_html

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14 May 2025

‘Stop the 21st century atrocity’ in Gaza, Fletcher urges UN Security Council

the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said on Tuesday in a briefing to the Security Council in New York.Mr. Fletcher began his remarks by asking the international community to reflect on what it will tell future generations about action taken “to stop the 21st century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza.”He wondered, for example, if “we will use those empty words: ‘We did all we could,’” and urged the Council to act decisively to prevent genocide from happening.Shrinking spaces, overwhelmed hospitalsIn addition to the aid blockade, civilians in Gaza have again been forcibly displaced and confined into ever-shrinking spaces, he said, as 70 per cent of the territory is either within Israeli-militarized zones or under displacement orders. Furthermore, the few remaining hospitals are overwhelmed, and medics cannot stem the trauma and the spread of disease.“I can tell you from having visited what’s left of Gaza’s medical system that death on this scale has a sound and a smell that does not leave you,” he said.“As one hospital worker described it, ‘children scream as we peel burnt fabric from their skin.’”We can save livesMr. Fletcher stressed that the UN and partners are desperate to resume humanitarian aid across Gaza, and the recent ceasefire showed that they can deliver. Meanwhile, lifesaving supplies are waiting to enter the enclave.“We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors. We have rigorous mechanisms to ensure our aid gets to civilians, and not to Hamas,” he insisted.“But Israel denies us access, placing the objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians,” he said. “It is bad enough that the blockade continues. How do you react when Israeli Ministers boast about it? Or when attacks on humanitarian workers and violations of the UN’s privileges and immunities continue, along with restrictions on international and non-governmental organizations.” Reject ‘cynical’ US-Israeli aid alternative Mr. Fletcher recalled that Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law, and as the occupying power must agree to aid and facilitate it. “For anyone still pretending to be in any doubt, the Israeli-designed distribution modality is not the answer,” he stated, noting that among other things, the plan “makes starvation a bargaining chip.”“It is cynical sideshow. A deliberate distraction. A fig leaf for further violence and displacement,” he told ambassadors. “If any of that still matters, have no part in it.”He also addressed the increasing violence in the West Bank, where the situation is the worst in decades, with entire communities destroyed and refugee camps depopulated.Insist on accountabilityMr. Fletcher noted that international humanitarian workers have been the only international civilian presence in Gaza over the past 19 months, and they have briefed the Council on what they witness daily.“We have described the deliberate obstruction of aid operations and the systematic dismantling of Palestinian life, and that which sustains it, in Gaza,” he said.The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is now considering whether a genocide is taking place there and “will weigh the testimony we have shared. But it will be too late,” he warned.He said the ICJ has recognized the urgency and indicated clear provisional measures that should have been acted on – but Israel has failed to do so. Moreover, previous reviews of the UN’s conduct in cases of large-scale violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have pointed to the collective failure to speak to the scale of violations while they were being committed.“For those killed and those whose voices are silenced: what more evidence do you need now?” he asked. “Will you act – decisively - to prevent genocide and to ensure respect for international humanitarian law? Or will you say instead, 'we did all we could?’”.He told the Council that the degradation of international law is corrosive and infectious, and it is undermining decades of progress on civilian protection.“Humanity, the law, and reason must prevail,” he said. “This Council must prevail. Demand this ends. Stop arming it. Insist on accountability.”Fear future judgementMr. Fletcher called for Israel to stop killing and injuring civilians, and to lift the brutal blockade so that humanitarians can save lives.He urged Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups to release all hostages immediately and unconditionally, and to stop putting civilians at risk during military operations. “And for those who will not survive what we fear is coming - in plain sight - it will be no consolation to know that future generations will hold us in this chamber to account. But they will,” he said. “And, if we have not seriously done “all we could’, we should fear that judgement.” , filtered_html

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13 May 2025

Gaza: Starvation looms for one in five people, say food security experts

Gazans remain at “critical risk of famine,” UN-backed food security experts warned on Monday, a full 19 months since war began with Israel and 70 days since deliveries stopped of all aid and commercial supplies.“Goods indispensable for people’s survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks…The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity,” said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) platform.In its latest update, the IPC estimated that one in five people in Gaza – 500,000 – faces starvation.Prices have soared for basics such as a 25 kilogramme sack of wheat flour, which now costs between $235 and $520, representing a 3,000 per cent price spike since February.“In a scenario of a protracted and large-scale military operation and continuation of the humanitarian and commercial blockade, there would be a critical lack of access to supplies and services that are essential to survival,” the IPC said.Guterres voices alarmUN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was alarmed by the findings, especially that most children are now facing extreme hunger.The World Food Programme (WFP) and children’s agency, UNICEF, warned that hunger and malnutrition have intensified sharply since all aid was blocked from entering on 2 March.WFP chief Cindy McCain said families are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border. “It’s imperative that the international community acts urgently to get aid flowing into Gaza again,” she said. “If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people.”Aid partners on the ground in Gaza report that the number of hot meals served by those community kitchens that are still operating is declining very quickly. Today, about 260,000 meals have been prepared and delivered across the Gaza Strip. That marks a decrease compared to 840,000 meals last Wednesday – a 70 per cent reduction of 580,000 daily meals in just five days.New strikes on UN sheltersThe development comes amid continuing reports of Israeli bombardment across Gaza on Monday. On Saturday, another school run by the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA was hit, this time in Gaza City at around 6.30pm, reportedly killing two people and injuring an unknown number.A day earlier, four more people were reportedly killed when another UNRWA facility was bombed in Jabalia camp, north Gaza. The agency’s office was “completely destroyed” and three surrounding buildings sustained severe damage, including a distribution centre. There were no supplies in the distribution centre when it was hit, owing to the continuing Israeli blockade, UNRWA said, noting that it ran out of food for Gaza “more than two weeks ago." Echoing the wider aid community’s rejection of the Israeli plan to manage deliveries of food and non-food items across Gaza’s governorates, the IPC deemed it “highly insufficient to meet the population’s essential needs for food, water, shelter and medicine."IPC’s assessments help aid agencies decide where needs are greatest around the world. Food insecurity is measured on a scale of one to five, with IPC1 indicating no hunger and IPC5 denoting famine conditions.According to the latest data, 15 per cent of people in the governorates of Rafah, North Gaza and Gaza are classified as IPC5. Most of the remainder are little better off.Israel plan scepticismAmid this disastrous and deteriorating situation, Israel’s proposed distribution plan will likely create “significant access barriers [to aid] for large segments of the population," the IPC said.And pointing to Israel’s recently announced large-scale military operation across the Gaza Strip and persistent obstacles impeding the work of aid agencies, it warned that there was “a high risk that ‘Famine (IPC Phase 5)’ will occur” between now and 30 September.With hunger everywhere, a high number of households have reported having to resort to “extreme coping strategies” such as collecting rubbish to sell for food. But one in four of this number say that “no valuable garbage remains," while social order “is breaking down” the IPC reported., filtered_html

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Press Release

21 May 2025

UN Human Rights OPT is deeply concerned about waves of settlers’ violence and collective punishment of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

Israeli settlers went on a rampage against Palestinian communities. During multiple attacks against Palestinians across the West Bank in the past days, which were often carried out in the presence of Israeli security forces, settlers reportedly set fire to at least one Palestinian home and 15 vehicles in Salfit governorate alone, threw stones and damaged several Palestinian vehicles on the Huwwara and Za’tara roads, Nablus, and raided Palestinian herding communities north of Jericho. On 15 May, in the South Hebron Hills, settlers closed the northern entrance to Masafer Yatta for at least six hours, effectively blocking access to several villages, and on 19 May destroyed the wind turbine used to generate electricity in Qawawis, leaving the entire village without power.According to information received by the UN Human Rights office OPT, on 18 May, after arresting several men in the town, Israeli security forces shot and killed a 36-year-old man from Bruqin. The deceased was reportedly arrested and detained for more than an hour before being killed while in IF custody, although ISF say that he was killed while running at them with an unidentified object. Israeli security forces is reportedly using as a military post the house where the killed man lived with his wife and children along with other homes in Bruqin. In parallel, settler groups also called for revenge and escalated attacks against Palestinians, taking advantage of the situation to establish new outposts, in their continued efforts to forcibly displace increasing numbers of Palestinians and take over their land.Since 16 May, Israeli bulldozers have been uprooting trees in the area in Bruqin after the Israeli army seized, under military orders, land belonging to the village, purportedly to improve security for settlers. On 19 May, the head of settlements regional council announced establishing an office in Bruqin, where groups of settlers have set up several tents and toilets, and called for demolition of Palestinian property and the establishment of a new settlement in the area. Also on 19 May, Israeli security forces demolished a three-story Palestinian home in the town, citing a lack of Israeli building permit.In an another extremely concerning development, on 18 May, settlers brought dozens of sheep and started building animal pens and other structures for the establishment of a new outpost in close proximity to Palestinian homes in Mughayyir Al-Dir, Ramallah, with concerns that the move is aimed at forcibly displacing the last Palestinian herding community remaining in the area.The Office is deeply concerned that such actions are directed at displacing Palestinians from their land and consolidating Israel's presence in and transfer of its population into the occupied territory. As the ICJ found in its Advisory Opinion in July last year, Israel is under an obligation to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as rapidly as possible. It must cease immediately all new settlement activities and evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory., filtered_html

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Press Release

19 May 2025

Escalation of attacks in Gaza with a pattern of strikes on Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) tents and residential buildings, as well as on crowded hospitals

On 19 May the Israeli Defense Forces announced that they had struck '160 terror targets" across Gaza over the period of one day, which in the context of the existing destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, raises grave concerns that not all strikes were targeted at military objectives. Furthermore, the pattern of strikes on Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) tents and residential buildings, as well as on crowded hospitals, indicates that little, if any, care is being taken to protect the lives of civilians in Gaza, while reports of the use of weapons with wide area effects suggest deliberate, indiscriminate attacks.Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is beyond description. For the third consecutive month, Israel continues to prevent the entry and distribution of any items essential for life. Mass displacement continues as a result of bombings and strikes, the humanitarian catastrophe, and displacement orders, some of which no longer even identify areas where civilians should move. Around 150,000 people reportedly have been displaced in the last 24 hours alone. Displaced Palestinians are being forced onto the streets, with no shelter, and in most cases with no food, water or medical care. On 19 May, Israel issued more displacement orders impacting large areas of Khan Younis and Deir El Balah, which will result in further massive displacement, death, destruction, and push people into smaller areas. Those who have been forced from their homes or other shelters remain under attack. In the last 48 hours, the Israeli military has intensified strikes, especially in North Gaza and Khan Younis and adjacent Deir al Balah in Middle Gaza, killing at least 96 Palestinians during the night and early morning of 17-18 May alone. In the last few days, the majority of Palestinians killed were in IDP tents, especially in the overcrowded Al Mawasi area in western Khan Yunis, where the Israeli military had previously unilaterally designated a “humanitarian zone.” During the late night of 17 May, Israeli military strikes on IDP tents in Al Mawasi killed at least 36 Palestinians, including 4 cases in which parents and their children were killed together. In the morning of 18 May, an attack on another IDP tent near Alkhear Hospital in Al Mawasi, killed 4 Palestinians, a man and his 3 boys. In less than 24 hours, 5 Palestinian journalists were reportedly killed, including a female journalist. This wave of killings of journalists came a few days after 3 other journalists were killed on 13 and 14 May. OHCHR has verified the killing of 214 Palestinian journalists in Gaza since 7 October 2023, including 185 men and 29 women. The apparent targeting of Palestinian journalists in Gaza, combined with the denial by Israel of access of foreign journalist to Gaza for over 18 months, except a few visits controlled by IDF, appear to indicate a deliberate attempt by Israel to limit the flow of information to and from Gaza and prevent reporting on the impact of its attacks and denial of humanitarian assistance. , filtered_html

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Press Release

14 May 2025

Israeli security cabinet’s decision to resume land registration in Area C of the occupied West Bank is deeply troubling

The process of land registration or settlement of land title, under which Israel purportedly seeks to definitively establish land ownership registration in favour of Israeli settlers, represents an exercise of sovereignty prohibited in occupied territory. The office has in the past raised concerns that the settlement of title in East Jerusalem, ongoing since 2018, has been conducted in a discriminatory manner and has resulted in the seizure of Palestinian lands and property for the establishment of Israeli settlements, while placing Palestinians at risk of evictions. Similar concerns arise with any process of settlement of title in Area C of the occupied West Bank.The announcement by the Israeli government cannot be separated from recent legislative initiatives to further extend Israeli sovereignty, including through allowing Israeli individuals to purchase land in the West Bank, which Israel, as the Occupying Power should hold in trust for the Palestinian population, the dramatic intensification of violent and discriminatory practices against Palestinians such as demolitions and movement restrictions, and the continued expansion of settlements and settlement infrastructure. These policies have been accelerated in the shadow of the escalation of hostilities in Gaza and have, along with relentless settler attacks, led to the forcible transfer of thousands of Palestinians, particularly from Area C, and are changing the geography and demography of the West Bank.If pursued, land registration by the occupying power would likely result in further expropriation of Palestinian land and natural resources in violation of the property rights of Palestinians, as well as other rights such as the rights to housing and shelter, food, and the benefit of Israeli settlers and settlements. In this context, such a land registration exercise would also be in violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power, as it would not only be exceeding its limited legislative powers but would further entrench 50 years of unlawful transfer by the occupying power of its population into the occupied territory., filtered_html

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Press Release

29 April 2025

Supported by the Sawasya III Joint Programme: An-Najah National University holds a conference on developing legal education in Palestinian Universities

The conference came in response to the growing need to develop legal education in Palestine, particularly amid the structural challenges faced by law schools. It aimed to bridge the gap between theory and practice through the legal clinic model, which was highlighted as a practical, hands-on educational tool that fosters students’ legal skills and community engagementThe conference was opened with welcoming remarks delivered by H.E. Counselor Sharhabil Al-Zaeem, Minister of Justice; The Governor of Nablus Governorate, Mr. Ghassan Daghlas, Mr. Fadi Abbas, President of the Palestinian Bar Association; Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Khayyat, Vice President for Academic Affairs at An-Najah University; Dr. Nour Addas, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, along with Mr. Simon Ridley, Sawasya III Joint Programme Manager. The event was attended by a wide range of legal scholars, human rights experts, representatives from the justice sector, law faculties and students from across Palestinian universities.In his remarks, Mr. Simon Ridley, Sawasya III Joint Programme Manager, emphasized the importance of integrating legal clinics into university curricula, stating: “We fully believe that legal clinics offer a unique opportunity for law students to immerse themselves in practical learning while serving their communities and equipping them with firsthand experience in legal advocacy and client representation.In this context, legal clinics serve as an educational tool and as platforms for social justice. By equipping future lawyers with the tools necessary to navigate complex legal challenges, we are fostering a generation of advocates who can champion the rights of the marginalized and uphold the rule of law. As we embark on this journey of reform, it is imperative that we collaborate across institutions, share best practices, and learn from one another. Together, we can create a robust network of legal education that not only enriches universities but also enhances the legal profession in Palestine.”The event featured three specialized sessions that explored the state and evolution of legal education in Palestine. Discussions addressed structural challenges within law faculties, the disconnect between theoretical training and practical market needs, and the importance of curriculum reform and interactive learning approaches to enhance students’ competencies and professional readiness.H.E. Minister of Justice, Counselor Sharhabil Al-Zaeem stated: “Dedicating a full session to the topic of legal clinics and their role as an effective practical educational tool in promoting the rule of law and serving the community and marginalized groups is a strategic step towards bridging legal education with practical reality and enhancing access to justice.Also, In this regard, I am pleased to inform you of the establishment of the Mobile Legal Clinic Unit at the Ministry of Justice, which aims to promote legal awareness among target groups, particularly those whose political, social, or economic circumstances hinder their access to justice.”A key focus of the event was on the legal clinic model as a modern, applied approach to legal education. The model was presented as an innovative tool for equipping future legal professionals with the ability to address real-world legal challenges and support marginalized communities, particularly women and children. The conference showcased successful national and international experiences that reaffirmed the importance of institutionalizing legal clinics as a sustainable part of legal education.Speaking on behalf of An-Najah University’s President, Dr. Abdulsalam Al-Khayyat reaffirmed the university’s commitment to advancing legal education as a pillar of institutional and societal development: "The legal clinic at our university, along with those established at other universities that have adopted the legal clinic model, has served as a true example of practical legal training by bridging theoretical and practical aspects for students through their engagement in community service and their active contribution in providing legal consultations to vulnerable groups."Dr. Nour Addas, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, affirmed:
"Legal clinics are not merely an educational phase; rather, they serve as a genuine bridge connecting academic knowledge with practical reality, contributing to community service, supporting marginalized groups, promoting the values of justice and human rights among students, and raising their legal and social awareness."The Governor of Nablus Governorate, Mr. Ghassan Daghlas, also emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation between academic institutions and civil society organizations to foster a legal educational environment that promotes legal innovation and supports the rule of law.In addition, the discussions examined structural barriers to reforming legal education, such as the persistent gap between academia and professional practice, the need for updated curricula, and opportunities for international cooperation and knowledge exchange. Participants also discussed emerging tools such as generative artificial intelligence and their potential role in advancing legal training.The conference concluded with a set of practical recommendations, emphasizing the institutional integration of legal clinics into academic programs, the need for sustainable financial and administrative support, and the importance of strengthening collaboration between universities and the justice sector.This conference forms part of the broader efforts of the Sawasya III Joint Programme to strengthen legal education in Palestine by promoting experiential learning through legal clinics and fostering a human rights-based academic environment that contributes to the development of a comprehensive, inclusive, and accessible justice system for all., filtered_html

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Press Release

10 April 2025

Supported by the Sawasya III Joint Programme: Bethlehem University Hosts First Conference and Graduation Ceremony on Child Protection

The two-day event began on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, with the conference titled “Child Protection in a Diverse World – Palestine as a Model,” held at Bethlehem University’s campus. The conference opened with welcoming remarks from Br. Hernán Santos, FSC, Vice Chancellor of Bethlehem University, followed by thematic sessions moderated by Ms. Minerva Jarayseh, Mr. Riad Arar and Mr. Raed Amira. The sessions brought together experts and professionals to discuss key issues related to child protection within the Palestinian social and cultural context. The conference concluded with a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening the child protection system in Palestine.The activities continued on Wednesday, April 9, with the graduation ceremony for participants of the Specialized Professional Diploma in Child Protection, implemented by the Institute for Community Engagement & Partnership at Bethlehem University, with support from UNICEF through the Sawasya III Joint Programme – Reinforcing Equal Access to Justice for All Palestinians, a joint initiative by UNDP, UN Women and UNICEF.In his opening remarks, Br. Hernán Santos said, “We are here to celebrate the launch and first graduation cohort of the Child Protection Professional Diploma—a programme that represents not only the growth of academic excellence at Bethlehem University, but also our deep commitment to the children of Palestine. Endorsed by the Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and supported by UNICEF through the Sawasya III Joint Programme.” He added, “This initiative brought together a powerful coalition: our Social Science Department, the Palestinian Children Council, Terre des Hommes, UNRWA, the Family Protection Police, the Ministries of Social Affairs and Education, and SOS Children’s Villages. Together, they built a program rooted in theory, but grounded in the real, painful challenges our communities face daily.”The Specialized Professional Diploma in Child Protection was developed in response to the growing need to strengthen the child protection system in Palestine, amid rising cases of violence against children. Through collaboration between Bethlehem University and UNICEF through the Sawasya III Joint Programme, an integrated academic curriculum was developed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to safeguard children and uphold their rights.Ms. Micaela Pasini, Chief Child Protection - UNICEF, stated: "No system can function without equipped skilled and dedicated professionals that ensure the protection support that the child needs. This is why UNICEF places a strong emphasis on strengthening the child protection workforce—the frontline workers who provide direct care, support, and intervention for vulnerable children. Through the Sawasya programme, UNICEF and its partners are working to enhance protection services for the most at-risk children. This program promotes holistic, rights-based approaches that bridge legal, social, and psychological support. It fosters collaboration between government institutions, civil society, and international partners to create a safety net for children and other vulnerable groups."The diploma targets professionals working in all ministries and institutions involved in child protection, such as child protection counselors at the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), Juvenile judges, Family and Juvenile Police Officers, Juvenile Prosecutors and lawyers working in this field. It aims to strengthen the capacities of professionals at both social and legal levels and to support the establishment of a child-centered protection system. The programme combines social work, child development, and legal frameworks, enabling professionals to deliver more effective and child-appropriate services.Speaking on behalf of the Sawasya development partners, Ms. Annika Lysén, Consul for Human Rights and Democracy at the Consulate General of Sweden in Jerusalem, remarked: "Considering the extremely challenging and violent context we as cooperation partners see the Child Protection Professional Diploma as an important step to ensure safer childhood for Palestinian children. In a complex and violent situation like this, social workers and other professionals like counselors, Police Officers and Juvenile prosecutors all have a pertinent role to play. The Diploma will strengthen their professional capacity based on increased knowledge of how to enhance child protection."
The programme covers international child rights legislation, fundamental legal principles that protect children, and essential resources. It is delivered through interactive learning methods, including group work, open discussions, case studies, and research papers. Courses are taught by highly qualified lecturers and experts with extensive experience in child protection and human rights.Professor Iman Saca, Vice President for Academic Affairs, addressed the graduates with a message urging them to uphold the ethical responsibility that comes with their diploma. She said: "Today, you are not only receiving a certificate, but also an ethical and professional responsibility. You are now in a position that qualifies you to be at the forefront of child protection in our society. Whether you work in education, health, social services, civil society organizations, or the police, your role is central and essential. You are the bridge between policy and practice, between hope and action."Speeches were also delivered by Dr. Ayyoub Alayan, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education; Saeeda Al-Atrash, Director of the Directorate of Social Development in Bethlehem; and Brigadier General Wafa' Muammar, Director of the Family and Juvenile Protection Unit in the Palestinian Police.All speakers praised this programme, highlighting the urgent need for experts in the field of child protection in light of the current situation.The speakers also congratulated the graduates on their achievement and their willingness to take on this important responsibility. Ms. Najla Dweikat delivered a speech on behalf of the graduates, in which she thanked Sawasya III Joint Programme and its development partners.As part of its commitment to child protection, UNICEF, through the Sawasya III Joint Programme, works to strengthen child protection systems in Palestine by investing in prevention, providing response services, and building the capacities of the social welfare workforce to ensure the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse., filtered_html

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