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Join on Telegram Rabat – The United Nations human rights office criticized Israel for persisting with “unlawful” restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, despite assertions from Israel and the US suggesting otherwise.
“Israel continues to impose unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance, and to carry out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, at a press briefing in Geneva.
The Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) bloody war on Gaza has rendered much of the strip uninhabitable and forced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians into disease-ridden shelters.
The vast majority of Gaza’s population are grappling with a severe shortage of basic necessities, including food, clean water, and medicine.
This has resulted in an alarming rise in malnutrition among Gazans, especially children, as well as the spread of diseases.
Israel and the US claim that aid flows have increased in recent days. But UN agencies dispute this, stating that the current level of aid remains far below the bare minimum required.
The spokesperson for the UN human rights office emphasized the need for unhindered access to humanitarian assistance, as well as denounced Israel’s imposition of restrictions.
International pressure on Israel intensified after its forces deliberately bombed an aid convoy carrying humanitarian assistance across Gaza.
The attack resulted in the death of seven relief workers from aid group World Central Kitchen (WCK). The group, which decided to suspend its work in Gaza, said in a statement that the attack occurred despite coordination with Israeli forces before making the trip.
Following the incident, several other aid groups announced suspending their operations in Gaza out of fear for their employees’ safety.
In addition, they strongly condemned Israel’s actions and called for the protection of humanitarian workers.
“Those delivering or trying to access humanitarian assistance must never be attacked,” the UN spokesperson said.
