Everyone in Gaza is hungry: UN as Palestinian aid agency faces potential shutdown
United Nations Secretary-General Ant³nio Guterres on Thursday made an urgent plea for immediate and sustained humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, highlighting how “everyone in Gaza was hungry”.
In a social media post, he wrote, “Everyone in Gaza is hungry. 1.7 million people have been displaced. The humanitarian system in collapsing. I call for rapid, safe, unhindered, expanded and sustained humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”
Guterres highlighted the severe conditions in Gaza, saying that there was a collapse of the humanitarian system. In another post on X, the UN chief said that only a two-State solution could ensure the realisation of rights of the Palestian people and peace in the region.
“Only the two-State solution – with Israel & Palestine living side-by-side – can ensure the realisation of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and a just & lasting peace in the region. The international community must not waver in its commitment to that solution,” Guterres said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the closure of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), simultaneous with ongoing Israeli air strikes in Gaza amid diplomatic attempts for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
Israel alleges UNRWA staff involvement in the October 7 Hamas assault, prompting a freeze on funding by donors, including the United States, pending an investigation. However, aid agencies argue that discontinuing UNRWA operations would severely impact humanitarian efforts in Gaza.
The UNRWA said on Thursday that it will most likely be forced to shut down its operations in the Middle East, including in Gaza, by the end of the month if funding does not resume, according to a Reuters report.
After Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel, causing approximately 1,140 casualties, mainly civilians, as per an AFP count relying on official data, the Israeli military initiated a fierce air, land, and sea offensive.
The Gaza health ministry reports that this offensive has killed at least 26,900 individuals, consisting of mainly women and children.