On Tuesday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dismissed a new Israeli initiative aimed at regulating aid deliveries to Gaza, warning that it could lead to “further control and a heartless restriction of aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour.”
“I want to emphasize that we will not engage in any arrangement that fails to uphold the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality,” Guterres stated to the press.
Since March 2, no aid has reached the Palestinian territory, which is home to approximately 2.1 million people. Israel has declared that it will not permit the entry of any goods or supplies into Gaza until Hamas releases all remaining hostages.
Last week, COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid, met with U.N. agencies and international aid organizations, proposing “a structured monitoring and aid entry mechanism” for Gaza.
According to COGAT’s post on X on Sunday, the mechanism aims to assist aid organizations, improve oversight and accountability, and ensure that aid reaches the civilian population in need, rather than being misappropriated by Hamas.
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Jonathan Whittall, the senior U.N. aid official for Gaza and the West Bank, noted last week that there was no evidence to suggest that aid had been diverted.
Following a two-month ceasefire, Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza last month and re-deployed troops into the region.
Guterres described Gaza as a site of relentless violence, stating, “Civilians are trapped in an unending cycle of death.” He reiterated the urgent need for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, a lasting ceasefire, and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza.
He pointed out that with border crossings into Gaza closed and aid severely restricted, the security situation has deteriorated, severely limiting our ability to provide assistance.
“As the occupying power, Israel has clear responsibilities under international law, including both humanitarian and human rights law,” Guterres emphasized.
This implies that Israel must support relief efforts and guarantee access to food, medical services, hygiene, and public health standards in Gaza. “Currently, none of this is being implemented,” he noted.
Israel contends that it does not maintain effective control over Gaza and thus does not qualify as an occupying power.
The conflict in Gaza escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 individuals in southern Israel and took approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Since that time, Gaza health authorities have reported over 50,000 Palestinian fatalities.
