UN says 85% of aid requests to North Gaza blocked, delayed by 'Israel'
3 Min Read
OCHA has voiced serious concern for the remaining Palestinians trapped in northern Gaza due to the blockade, urging "Israel" to allow critical humanitarian assistance.
-
Palestinian children living in tents after being forcibly displaced from their homes amid the Israeli genocide in Gaza, August 2024 (@UNRWA/X)
The United Nations has reported that 85% of its requests to coordinate humanitarian aid convoys and access to northern Gaza were either blocked or delayed by "Israel" over the past month.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) submitted 98 access requests for passage through a checkpoint in the Gaza Valley, with only 15 receiving approval.
The most represented age group of the murdered in Gaza is 5-9 year olds. Textbook ethnic cleansing. This is just one of tens of thousands of Palestinian children Israel continues to slaughter. pic.twitter.com/vs2EKPAFAC
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman) November 12, 2024
He also mentioned that “over the past three days, teams from OCHA, UN human rights agencies, and other humanitarian groups have visited nine locations in Gaza City to assess the needs of hundreds of displaced families, many of whom are returning to northern Gaza.”
Dujarric expressed grave concern for Palestinians still in northern Gaza due to the ongoing blockade and called on "Israel" to permit essential humanitarian operations.
Northern Gaza faces starvation amid escalating crisis
A recent OCHA report revealed that humanitarian groups submitted 50 requests to enter northern Gaza in October, of which 33 were denied and eight were approved but faced delays that disrupted their missions, according to a UN spokesperson.
This report highlighted a worsening humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, which has been cut off from aid and supplies for over 50 days, resulting in famine-like conditions. UN agencies are warning of extreme violence, forced displacement, and severe shortages of food and essential resources affecting hundreds of thousands of residents.
US says 'Israel' not violating Gaza aid law despite looming famine
Despite this dire situation, the United States still found a way through which it could defend "Israel" or mitigate the fact that the occupation deliberately broke the US 30-day deadline meant to enhance humanitarian supplies in the Strip.
On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel announced that "Israel" has not violated US law regarding humanitarian aid entry into Gaza but stressed the need for additional efforts to improve the situation on the ground.
The assessment follows a letter sent last month by outgoing President Joe Biden's administration, in which Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed alarm over Gaza's humanitarian crisis and warned "Israel" of potential military aid consequences if aid flow benchmarks weren't met by November 13.
When asked if "Israel" had met the outlined criteria, Patel confirmed that no violation of US law had been determined.
"The overall humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to be unsatisfactory," Patel said, but noted that recent actions by "Israel", though limited, are "steps in the right direction."
By day 403 of Israeli genocide in Gaza: 43,665 killed, 100,076 injured
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Tuesday in its daily statistical report that the death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression has risen to 43,665 martyrs, with 103,076 injuries recorded since the war began on October 7, 2023.
The report highlighted that Israeli occupation forces committed five massacres against civilians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, resulting in killing 62 people and wounding 147 others. Many victims remain trapped under rubble or stranded in areas inaccessible to rescue and medical teams.
