Israeli occupation forces have obstructed 66 humanitarian missions from entering Gaza this September, out of a total of 337 missions coordinated by the United Nations, according to a report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Palestinian territories.
The OCHA report confirmed that Israel denied entry to 25 humanitarian missions headed for northern Gaza and blocked 41 others destined for southern Gaza.
In total, the UN coordinated 337 humanitarian missions in Gaza during September, with 94 aimed at the north and 243 targeting the southern part of the enclave.
However, Israeli occupation authorities only permitted the entry of 271 missions across both regions, leaving critical aid and services delayed or disrupted.
Calls for Protection
Last week, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called for the protection of UN staff and their ability to safely perform their duties, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
He stressed that Gaza should not be an exception when it comes to safeguarding humanitarian workers.
Lazzarini’s statement followed an incident in which Israeli forces halted a UN convoy en route to northern Gaza to carry out a polio vaccination campaign.
“This dangerous incident is the latest in a series of violations against UN personnel, including shooting at convoys and the detention of UN staff at checkpoints, despite prior coordination,” Lazzarini said in a press release.
The repeated obstruction of humanitarian efforts has raised concerns about the well-being of the civilian population in Gaza, where access to medical care, food, and essential services remains severely compromised due to the ongoing war and blockade.
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