UN Nations Urge Israel's Incoming Government to Ensure Unrestricted Aid Access to Gaza

Fifty-three United Nations member states and various organizations have issued a joint appeal to Israel’s incoming government, calling for the immediate opening of Gaza to unrestricted aid. This urgent plea comes as severe shortages of essential shelter and medical supplies are placing Palestinian civilians at high risk of preventable illnesses, particularly with the onset of winter.

The joint statement highlighted that current aid levels have not yet met the requirements stipulated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803. This resolution endorsed the US-backed Board of Peace plan and mandated aid deliveries at a minimum level consistent with January 2025 agreements. The appeal, spearheaded by Britain, Qatar, and Jordan at the UN in New York, emphasized the need for aid to enter Gaza through all accessible crossings and land routes, advocating for the full and predictable operation of humanitarian corridors via Egypt and Jordan.

Britain’s ambassador, Sarah MacIntosh, speaking on behalf of the co-signatories of the Gaza Call to Action on Humanitarian Access and Health, stated, “Since the ceasefire, we have seen that progress to improve the humanitarian situation is possible when political will allows.” However, she cautioned that ongoing restrictions on critical shelter items and other life-saving supplies are preventing humanitarian organizations from operating at the necessary scale.

Ambassador MacIntosh also issued a stark warning regarding the consequences of inadequate shelter, noting that individuals without it face risks of hypothermia, respiratory infections, waterborne diseases, and other preventable illnesses. Earlier on Wednesday, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher criticized the delays in delivering essential winter supplies to Gaza, asserting that waiting for the formation of a new Israeli government is an unacceptable reason to impede aid.

“Foreign ministers and partners have assured me of support, but also repeatedly said that progress would be hard until after Israeli elections,” Mr. Fletcher commented in a statement. “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.”

The UN children's fund (UNICEF) estimates that approximately 1.7 million of Gaza's 2.2 million residents are living in tents, makeshift shelters, or damaged buildings that are vulnerable to flooding and cold. Around 400,000 individuals are in areas with a high risk of flooding.

The signatories further urged Israel to ensure the protection of health workers, hospitals, medical transport, and humanitarian sites. They also called for swift and accountable criminal investigations into attacks targeting healthcare and aid workers. Additionally, the group requested that senior international delegations and journalists be granted access to Gaza.

In a separate incident on Thursday, Israel conducted a bombing at Nasser hospital in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 10 people. This strike was the deadliest single attack since Israel's elections last month, hitting a building housing surgery wards at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a senior Hamas commander and accused the militants of using the hospital complex for planning attacks, claims denied by Hamas.

Despite the 2025 ceasefire having largely reduced the intensity of fighting, Israel has maintained a consistent rate of strikes within the territory. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, over 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.