AhlulBayt News Agency: The UN’s humanitarian chief has accused Israel of committing a war crime by blocking food aid to starving Palestinians in Gaza, stating that the move is an attempt to forcibly remove the population.
Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said in an interview on Friday that food is being held at the borders while Palestinians suffer from starvation. He noted that Israeli ministers have openly admitted that the blockade is meant to pressure Gaza’s population.
Fletcher emphasized that using food as a weapon is classified as a war crime, adding that courts and history will ultimately judge the actions of Israel.
In recent days, several Palestinians seeking aid have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to reach distribution points in Rafah, under the US-Israeli aid mechanism.
International aid organizations have warned that Israel’s control over aid distribution, including the US-backed proposal, will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, criticized the US-backed aid model, calling it a distraction from the atrocities occurring in Gaza. He argued that the existing aid distribution system is already effective.
Israel blocked all humanitarian aid from entering Gaza on March 2, before resuming its military campaign on March 18 after ceasefire negotiations collapsed.
Fletcher also warned Israel against forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza, a policy that has been embraced by Israel’s far-right ruling coalition led by Netanyahu.
He urged Netanyahu to ensure that forced displacement policies are not enacted, citing statements from Israeli officials advocating for the destruction of Gaza and the relocation of its population.
Most Gazans have been displaced at least once during the 19-month-long Israeli aggression against the region.
Fletcher has repeatedly called on international organizations to take action against Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, urging the UN Security Council to prevent genocide.
On May 14, Fletcher told the UN Security Council that reports from the ground indicate forced displacement, starvation, torture, and mass deaths. He called on the world to act against genocide.
In the latest Israeli attacks, more than 50 Palestinians were killed across Gaza, with most casualties occurring in northern areas where evacuation orders had been issued.
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