The world must act now to help gas as part of the Israeli blockade, UN chiefs want

Heads of six United Nations have called on the world leaders to act urgently to ensure that food and supplies go to the Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel has ceased to let deliveries enter for more than a month.

A joint statement said that the Palestinians were “trapped, bombed and hungry again” with supplies “accumulate” at the crossing points.

Israel has blocked the entry of supplies, including humanitarian aid since March 2, after the expiration of the first stadium of a ceasefire, Hamas demanding to extend this part of the truce. Hamas refused, accusing Israel of denying its commitments.

Israel said that there was enough food in Gaza “for a long time”, but the agencies said it was not the case.

“The last cease-fire allowed us to make in 60 days which bombs, obstructions and looting prevented us from making in 470 days of war: vital supplies reaching almost all parts of Gaza,” said the press release.

“Although this has offered a short respite, the claims that there is now enough food to feed all the Palestinians in Gaza is far from reality on the ground, and the goods are extremely low.”

The declaration was signed by the heads of the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA); the UN children’s agency (UNICEF); The United Nations Bureau for Project Services (UNOPS); The World Food Program (WFP); and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Due to the blockade, All uninformed bakeries have closedThe markets are empty of most fresh vegetables and hospitals ration analgesics and antibiotics.

The declaration indicates that the “partially functional health system of Gaza is exceeded (and) … essential medical supplies and trauma are exhausted”.

“With the Israeli blockage tightened on Gaza now in its second month, we use world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure that the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law are confirmed.

“Protect civilians. Facilitate help. Release the hostages. Repeat a ceasefire.”

Under international humanitarian law, Israel is required to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population under its control are satisfied. The rapid and unhindered passage of humanitarian aid must also be authorized and facilitated.

The two -month break in fighting has seen a wave of humanitarian aid to let Gaza enter, as well as the release of Hamas of 33 hostages – including eight dead – in exchange for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israel has renewed its air bombing and its offensive on the ground in Gaza on March 18.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health managed by Gaza said that at least 58 people had been killed in the territory in the previous 24 hours.

Israeli strikes killed 19 people, including five children, including the house in the central city of Deir al-Balah, was affected, according to the Civil Defense Agency managed by Hamas.

11 other people were reportedly killed in two separate strikes in the northern city of Beit Lahia and a region northwest of Gaza City.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Syndicate journalists (PJS) said that a second Palestinian journalist died of injuries following an Israeli strike on Monday.

Ahmed Mansour suffered serious burns when a media tent in the south of Khan Younis was hit, also killing his colleague Palestine today Helmi al-Faqaawi.

The Israeli army said the strike was aimed at a third journalist, Hassan Eslaih, whom he accused of being a “Hamas terrorist”. The PJS said that Eslaih was in critical condition after the attack, as well as several other journalists.

The war was launched by the unprecedented attack of Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others brought back to Gaza as hostages.

Since then, more than 50,810 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.