UN Humanitarian Chief Demands Israel End Gaza Aid Blockade Amid Severe Crisis

UN Under-Secretary-General Tom Fletcher urged Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza, calling it 'cruel collective punishment' worsening a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel halted aid after a ceasefire collapsed in March, aiming to pressure Hamas to release hostages. UN agencies report over 3,000 aid trucks are stalled, risking starvation and medical collapse for Gaza's population. The blockade, defended by Israel as leverage against Hamas, has led to economic devastation and international legal scrutiny. Humanitarian groups demand immediate aid access, warning of famine-like conditions for Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

UN Condemns Blockade as Violation of International Law

Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, issued a strong statement on Thursday, urging Israel to allow the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. “Blocking aid starves civilians. It leaves them without basic medical support. It strips them of dignity and hope. It inflicts a cruel collective punishment,” Fletcher said, emphasizing that international law obligates Israel, as the occupying power, to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

Fletcher acknowledged the ongoing hostage crisis, stating, “Yes, the hostages must be released, now. They should never have been taken from their families.” However, he stressed that humanitarian aid “should never be a bargaining chip.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 3,000 aid trucks carrying lifesaving supplies are currently stalled at Gaza’s border due to the blockade. UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, warned that the lives of over 1 million children are at risk without access to these supplies.

Humanitarian Conditions in Gaza Deteriorate

Since Israel imposed a total siege on Gaza on March 2, the humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated. According to UN agencies, food, water, and medical supplies have run out, and hospitals are overwhelmed. The World Food Programme confirmed it had exhausted its food stocks by late April. Aid groups report that thousands of children are malnourished, and hospitals are seeing a sharp rise in underweight newborns and malnourished pregnant women.

The healthcare system is on the brink of collapse, with charity kitchens shutting down and medical facilities unable to function due to lack of fuel and supplies. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office echoed the UN’s concerns, stating on social media: “Aid supplies must be allowed in, medical workers protected, and the sick and wounded allowed to temporarily leave Gaza for treatment.”

Israel’s Position: Blockade as Leverage Against Hamas

Israel has defended its blockade as a necessary measure to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages and to prevent the militant group from rearming. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting 251. As of May 1, 2025, 59 hostages remain in captivity, with 24 believed to be alive.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar reiterated Israel’s stance during recent hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), calling the proceedings a “circus” and accusing the UN of failing to address alleged ties between Hamas and some UNRWA staff. “They are abusing the court once again to try and force Israel to cooperate with an organization that is infested with Hamas terrorists,” Saar said.

Israel has proposed alternative aid distribution mechanisms, including taking over distribution itself or using private companies. However, Fletcher rejected these proposals, stating they “do not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support.”

International Legal and Diplomatic Pressure Mounts

The ICJ began hearings this week to assess Israel’s obligations under international law to facilitate humanitarian aid. UN legal counsel argued that Israel must allow UN entities to operate freely to support the local population. Palestinian representative Ammar Hijazi accused Israel of using aid as “a weapon of war,” while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that starving civilians as a military tactic constitutes a war crime.

The blockade has also drawn criticism from humanitarian organizations. Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council have reported skyrocketing food prices—up 1,400% since the ceasefire ended—and widespread displacement, with 83% of Gaza’s population forced from their homes. Aid workers have also faced increasing risks, including attacks on convoys and looting of aid warehouses, which UNRWA attributes to “unbearable and prolonged deprivation.”

Economic and Social Collapse in Gaza

The blockade has compounded the economic devastation caused by the war. According to a joint assessment by the World Bank, United Nations, and European Union, the conflict has caused an estimated $53 billion in damages. Gaza’s economy has contracted by 83%, and unemployment, already at 45% before the war, is expected to rise further.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank, is also facing financial collapse due to the spillover effects of the conflict. Essential services across Gaza—including water, electricity, and sanitation—have been crippled, and the long-term recovery is expected to take decades.

Aid Agencies Call for Immediate Action

Humanitarian organizations continue to call for a full and permanent ceasefire and the immediate reopening of border crossings to allow the entry of food, water, medicine, and fuel. “The humanitarian movement is independent, impartial and neutral. We believe that all civilians are equally worthy of protection,” Fletcher said.

Despite the risks, UN agencies and NGOs say they remain ready to deliver aid if access is granted. However, OCHA reports that eight out of nine recent attempts to retrieve fuel from areas requiring Israeli coordination have been denied.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community faces growing pressure to ensure that aid reaches Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom are now facing famine-like conditions.

References

• UN official urges Israel to lift aid blockade of Gaza and calls it 'cruel collective punishment'
• UN demands that Israel lift aid blockade on Gaza Strip
• Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan
• MEDIA ADVISORY: EMERGENCY PRESS BRIEFING FROM HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS IN GAZA AS ISRAEL’S TOTAL SIEGE ON GAZA MARKS TWO MONTHS | Oxfam International
• The Economic Devastation Of Gaza: Counting The Cost Of War And The Urgent Need For Peace
• Israel's Gaza Aid Blockade Contested in World Court Hearings