DaysofPal- The United Nations has reported that the Israeli army has denied three attempts to deliver humanitarian aid to northern Gaza over the past three days.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stated on Monday that efforts made on Saturday, Sunday, and again on Monday to reach the area were all refused by Israeli authorities.
“Three attempts by the United Nations to reach these areas over the past three days — that’s one on Saturday, one on Sunday, and another one today — were all denied,” Dujarric said during a press briefing. He also noted that Israel continues to impose significant restrictions on the delivery of aid to northern Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday accused Israel of firing on one of its aid convoys in the war-torn Gaza Strip, saying at least 16 bullets hit the clearly marked vehicles but no staff were injured. Condemning the “horrifying” and “unacceptable” incident, the WFP called again for “all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilian lives, and allow safe passage for humanitarian aid.”
The “clearly marked WFP convoy was shot at by Israeli forces near the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, putting the lives of our staff at tremendous risk and leaving the vehicles immobilized,” the agency said in a statement.
“The convoy, consisting of three vehicles carrying eight staff members, came under hostile fire despite having received all of the necessary clearances from Israeli authorities. At least 16 bullets struck the vehicles,” it added. “Thankfully, no staff members were injured in this terrifying encounter.”
The situation has been further compounded by an impending Israeli ban on the operations of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Last Friday, UNRWA issued an urgent warning about the potential consequences of the ban, which could severely disrupt its ability to provide essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The ban, stemming from a decision made by the Israeli Parliament last October, is expected to take effect by the end of January unless reversed.
“The clock is ticking for a possible ban on UNRWA to deliver essential services for millions of Palestine refugees,” UNRWA spokesperson Juliette Touma said. She emphasized that such a ban would have catastrophic implications, as the agency plays a critical role in supporting the Palestinian population. “What needs to happen is for the Israeli parliament to retract the decision,” she added.
Touma also highlighted the unprecedented nature of the situation, noting, “It has never happened in the history of the United Nations that a member state decides to ban a UN agency, in the middle of a war, from doing its work.”
The UN continues to call on Israel to allow humanitarian operations to proceed and to permit the agency to maintain its crucial role in restoring public order and providing aid to the affected regions.
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