UN Aid Chief Slams Gaza Relief Delays, Rejects Waiting for Israeli Government Formation

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has strongly criticized the delays in delivering crucial winter supplies to Gaza. He stated that waiting for the formation of a new Israeli government is an unacceptable reason to impede aid flow.

“Foreign ministers and partners have assured me of support, but also repeatedly said that progress would be hard until after Israeli elections,” Mr Fletcher stated. “Now we’re told to wait for the formation of a government. In case anyone has any doubt about international humanitarian law, this is not an acceptable excuse, as the international community and Board of Peace have made clear,” he added.

The Board of Peace, which oversees US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, had urged Israel on Monday to permit essential aid. This call came after heavy rains caused widespread flooding over the weekend. The Board urged the Israeli government to “authorise the entry of essential materials for temporary shelter, water and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, drainage and sewage removal and to abide by its commitments under the Sharm El Sheikh Humanitarian Protocol”.

Mr Fletcher highlighted that the UN has been issuing warnings for months regarding the necessity of getting winter supplies into Gaza. These supplies include durable shelter materials, warm clothing, blankets, bedding, and safe heating. He cautioned that the ongoing delays, blockages, and funding cuts are placing the population at “great risk,” especially as harsh weather conditions threaten individuals without adequate shelter for a fourth consecutive winter since the war commenced in October 2023.

He advocated for the opening of all crossings into Gaza, rather than relying on a single point of entry. Furthermore, he urged authorities to permit humanitarian organizations to operate freely and for commercial markets to function.

The Israeli government, in response to the Board of Peace's appeal, affirmed its “commitment” to Mr Trump's peace plan. However, it attributed the lack of progress in its implementation to the militant group Hamas. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office asserted that Hamas, which initiated the war with an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 fatalities, would exploit “every dual-use item” to enhance its military capabilities.

Aid and humanitarian organizations have consistently criticized Israel's arbitrary classification of “dual-use” items. These items, which include everyday objects like torches, wheelchairs, tarpaulins, tent poles, and toilets, are often restricted, exacerbating the suffering of Gazan civilians.

The Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating aid, Cogat, claimed to have facilitated the entry of thousands of aid lorries into Gaza. However, UN figures indicate a decrease in the volume of assistance entering the territory since January.

On Saturday, Gaza's media office reported that 70,000 tents had been flooded, affecting tens of thousands of displaced individuals, some of whom sustained injuries. Approximately nine out of every ten people in Gaza, a population of 2.2 million, have been displaced due to the Israeli military's bombardment and ground offensive in the Palestinian territory. Direct Israeli attacks in Gaza have persisted despite a truce.

Health officials report that at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire agreement was established in October of the previous year, bringing Gaza's total death toll to over 74,600 since the conflict began.