Gaza: “Horrifying Scenes” as Aid Access Denied, UN Demands Accountability

“Horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid are a direct result of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of essentials, declared UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday. His stark assessment highlights the dire reality in the Gaza Strip, where desperate civilians face deadly risks for basic sustenance, and the international community demands accountability for these actions.
The crisis deepened with the temporary closure of aid facilities operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). This decision came after a series of deadly incidents near its distribution centers, including the tragic killing of 27 people in southern Gaza on Tuesday. The Israeli army’s warning that roads to these centers are “considered combat zones” further complicates the delivery of crucial aid.
Fletcher emphasized the overwhelming caseload of emergency medical teams treating hundreds of trauma cases, with dozens declared dead after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire. He stressed that these incidents are not isolated but rather the outcome of a deliberate strategy to deny essential supplies to two million people.
Echoing UN chief Antonio Guterres, Fletcher called for immediate independent investigations and insisted on holding perpetrators accountable. He also made an impassioned plea for unrestricted humanitarian access, urging for the opening of all crossings, the lifting of restrictions on aid, and the implementation of a ceasefire to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.