Israel must urgently address ‘disastrous conditions’ in Gaza, US ally says

Israel must urgently address the “catastrophic conditions” among Palestinian civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip and stop the “intensification of suffering” by limiting aid supplies, its ally the United States told the UN Security Council on Wednesday.

Referring to reports of poor conditions in southern and central Gaza, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “These catastrophic conditions were predicted months ago but have yet to be addressed. That needs to change, and now.”

“We call on Israel to take urgent steps on this,” she said in a direct statement.

The 15-member Security Council met on the humanitarian crisis a year after a deadly attack by Palestinian militants Hamas on southern Israel sparked the Gaza war. Since then, Israel has devastated much of the enclave and nearly the entire population of 2.3 million has been displaced.

Israel claims Hamas fighters killed around 1,200 people on October 7, 2023, while Gaza health authorities say nearly 42,000 people have been killed so far in Israel’s retaliation.

Thomas-Greenfield also addressed Israel’s recent order for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate again, saying they should be able to return to communities to rebuild.

“There must be no demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including actions that reduce the territory of Gaza,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, told the Security Council: “Hundreds of thousands of people are once again being forced to move to the south, where living conditions are intolerable.

“Once again, Gazans are teetering on the brink of man-made famine,” he said.

“NO LIMITS”

The UN has long complained about obstacles to getting aid to Gaza and distributing it during the war.

Reuters reported last week that food supplies to Gaza have fallen sharply in recent weeks because Israeli authorities imposed a new customs rule on some humanitarian aid and separately cut supplies organized by businesses.

“We need to see fewer barriers to aid delivery, not more,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, defended his country’s record: “Israel does not impose restrictions on humanitarian aid. In fact, 82% of all requests for humanitarian coordination are approved and fulfilled.”

He accused Hamas of diverting aid from those in Gaza who need it.

British UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the Council that Israel “needs to do much more” to avoid civilian casualties and ensure that the UN and humanitarian groups can operate safely and effectively in Gaza.

“The delivery of humanitarian aid is hampered and aid workers are constantly under threat,” said French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere.

More than 300 aid workers, most of them UNRWA staff, have been killed.

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