The UN’s humanitarian chief said Israel’s blocking of food aid to starving Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip in an attempt to forcibly remove the population amounts to a war crime.
“We’re seeing food sat on the borders and not being allowed in when there is a population on the other side of the border that is starving, and we’re hearing Israeli ministers say that is to put pressure on the population of Gaza,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher said in an interview on Friday.
“Using food as a weapon “is classified as a war crime,” he said, adding that it would be for the courts and history to judge.
In recent days, several aid seekers have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach an aid distribution point west of Rafah in the south of the besieged strip under the US and Israeli mechanism.
International aid agencies have already warned that Israeli plans to control aid distribution in Gaza, including the US-backed proposal, will only add to the suffering in the devastated Palestinian territory.
The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) recently censured the new United States-backed aid model in Gaza, saying it is a “distraction from atrocities” taking place there.
“I believe it is a waste of resources and a distraction from atrocities,” UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said.
“We already have an aid distribution system that is fit for purpose.”
Israel blocked all aid from entering Gaza on March 2, before resuming its campaign of genocide on March 18 after talks to prolong a six-week ceasefire collapsed.
Fletcher also warned Israel against the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
Israel’s far-right ruling coalition, led by Netanyahu, has embraced US President Donald Trump’s proposals on Gaza to displace Palestinians permanently outside the territory and turn it into a seaside real-estate development.
Presstv
