DaysofPal — The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued a dire warning, stating that the current U.S.-Israeli aid distribution mechanism in Gaza has devolved into a “killing ground.” Over the past month alone, more than 400 starving Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed while trying to access food.
In a forceful statement, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini called for an immediate end to the flawed mechanism, which operates outside of UN supervision. He emphasized that humanitarian aid must be delivered per international humanitarian principles. He demanded an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of the Gaza blockade, and the restoration of aid operations under UN oversight.
Starvation as a Weapon
UNRWA accused Israeli forces of deliberately firing on Palestinian civilians waiting in line for food, describing this as one of the most egregious cases of starvation being weaponized in modern warfare.
Since May 27, the so-called “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation”—a project backed by the U.S. and Israel—has operated aid deliveries independently, bypassing the UN and humanitarian coordination mechanisms. At the same time, Israeli authorities have kept border crossings shut since March 2, blocking the entry of hundreds of aid trucks. Only a trickle of supplies has been permitted, despite the desperate need.
Famine and Massacres at the Food Lines
With more than 2.3 million people in Gaza needing urgent assistance, UNRWA estimates at least 500 aid trucks per day are required to meet minimum needs. In reality, only a few dozen are being allowed entry.
This artificial scarcity has triggered a devastating famine and a string of massacres at or near aid distribution points. Notable atrocities include:
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The massacre near Holy Family School in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood;
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Shootings along Salah al-Din Street and near the Kerem Shalom Crossing;
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Airstrikes on tents sheltering displaced families in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis.
“Slow-Motion Genocide” and Legal Violations
UNRWA described the situation as a “slow-motion genocide”, where civilians are starved, displaced, and then targeted while seeking aid. The agency underscored that this pattern of targeting aid-seekers and denying food constitutes grave breaches of international law, potentially rising to the level of war crimes.
“People in Gaza are not just dying from hunger—they are being killed while trying to survive. The use of food as a weapon is immoral and illegal,” said Lazzarini.
A Worsening Catastrophe
Since the Israeli military campaign began on October 7, 2023, the toll has reached over 56,000 killed and 132,000 injured, with thousands still missing beneath the rubble. Gaza’s healthcare, water, and sanitation infrastructure have collapsed, and the entire humanitarian system is under threat.
Urgent Call to Action
UNRWA has called on the international community to act immediately, not only to protect aid access but to uphold the credibility of humanitarian law. The agency warns that continued inaction risks legitimizing the systematic use of starvation and violence as tools of warfare.
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