Access to aid in Gaza is currently at a critical low, with deliveries to the besieged northern regions of the enclave nearly impossible, according to a UN humanitarian official.
This statement contradicts a US assessment earlier this week, which claimed that Israel is not hindering humanitarian aid to Gaza, thus avoiding restrictions on US military assistance.
Israel has stated that it is making significant efforts to meet the humanitarian needs in Gaza.
“From our perspective, on all indicators you can possibly consider in humanitarian response, all of them are trending negatively,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, when asked at a Geneva press briefing if humanitarian access had improved.
Mr. Laerke expressed concern specifically for northern Gaza, where residents have been instructed to evacuate south as Israeli forces continue their incursion, now extending beyond a month.
Palestinian residents assess the damage to a building following an Israeli army attack in Deir al-Balah.
Israel asserts that its operations aim to prevent Hamas fighters from reorganizing.
“We are particularly worried about the situation in northern Gaza, which is now effectively under siege, making it nearly impossible to deliver aid. Therefore, the operation is being severely restricted,” Mr. Laerke explained.
“One of my colleagues illustrated it by saying that for humanitarian work… one wants to jump. But he added: it’s like being asked to jump while our legs are broken,” he added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a letter dated 13 October, outlined specific actions that Israel must undertake within 30 days to alleviate the deteriorating situation in Gaza.
The letter warned that failure to comply could have repercussions for US military aid to Israel.
Other non-UN humanitarian organizations have reported that Israel has not fulfilled these demands, a claim that Israel has denied.
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According to the Gaza health ministry’s recent statement, approximately 43,764 Palestinians have died and 103,490 have been injured due to Israel’s military operations in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
In the meantime, a senior Hamas official has stated that the group is “prepared for a ceasefire” in Gaza and has urged US President-elect Donald Trump to apply pressure on Israel to end hostilities.
“Hamas is willing to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a proposal is presented and is honored” by Israel, said Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim to AFP.
“We urge the US administration and Trump to compel the Israeli government to cease its aggression.
“Hamas has communicated to mediators that it supports any proposal that leads to a definitive ceasefire and military withdrawal from Gaza, enabling the return of displaced persons, a substantive agreement on prisoner exchanges, the entry of humanitarian aid, and reconstruction,” Mr. Naim added.
The conditions outlined are consistent with those Hamas has presented in previous ceasefire negotiations since the onset of the conflict.
