U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and a spokesman for the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday called for unimpeded humanitarian access in the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Speaking at the U.N. headquarters in New York, Guterres warned that Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a "brutal crisis" that must not be forgotten by the international community. The U.N. chief criticized Israel for persistently obstructing humanitarian operations, resulting in severe shortages of fuel, supplies and medicines for aid workers and pushing the healthcare system to the brink of collapse.
"For over three months, shelter materials and fuels for critical services have been blocked. Doctors are forced to choose who gets the last vial of medicine or the last ventilator. Aid workers themselves are starving. This cannot be normalized," said Guterres.
He cautioned that any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarized zones is inherently unsafe, referring to the aid operations of the U.S.-run, Israel-approved Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
It is time for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and full, safe and sustained humanitarian access, he said.
On the same day, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where severe shortages of essential supplies persist while vital aid remains blocked from entering the territory.
"People are starving, people are sick, people are dying in Gaza on a daily basis. At the same time, we have food and medical help minutes away across the border, sitting there and waiting for weeks and months by now. Just open the door, that's all it needs," Lindmeier said via video link at a press briefing in Geneva.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, operating with U.S. and Israeli support, has been mired in controversy since its launch in Gaza on May 27 due to heavy involvement by Israeli forces and frequent shootings during aid distribution.
Humanitarian groups have accused the organization of deliberately creating obstacles for Gaza civilians, forcing them to choose between starvation and risking their lives to obtain minimal supplies. They have denounced it as "a massacre under the guise of humanitarian aid" that "must be stopped immediately."
U.N. chief, WHO spokesman urge unimpeded humanitarian access into Gaza
