Palestinians congregate to collect bread from a bakery in Deir Al Balah, central Gaza Strip, amidst the persistent conflict between Israel and Hamas on November 29, 2024. — Reuters file
The United Nations chief described the situation in war-ravaged Gaza as 'appalling and apocalyptic' on Monday, cautioning that the conditions faced by Palestinians in the territory could constitute 'the gravest international crimes'. In a statement delivered at a Cairo conference focused on bolstering humanitarian aid, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community to 'establish a basis for sustainable peace in Gaza and throughout the Middle East'. The conflict in Gaza erupted when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,208 fatalities, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP compilation of Israeli official data. Israel's retaliatory strikes have claimed 44,429 lives in Gaza, as per figures from the territory's health ministry deemed reliable by the UN. Guterres emphasized the catastrophic impact of the conflict and the pressing need for international intervention. 'Malnutrition is widespread... Famine looms. Simultaneously, the healthcare system has collapsed,' he stated. The UN chief further noted that Gaza now has 'the highest number of child amputees per capita globally', with 'numerous children undergoing limb loss and surgeries without anesthesia'. Guterres also criticized the stringent limitations on aid distribution, labeling the current levels 'grossly inadequate'. According to UNRWA's records, only 65 aid trucks per day have entered Gaza this past month, compared to a pre-war average of 500. International aid organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the worsening conditions in Gaza, warning that civilians are on the verge of famine. They report that aid deliveries to the enclave are at their lowest since the war began. Israel, which imposed a complete blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory early in the conflict, attributes aid delivery issues to the alleged inability of relief organizations to manage and distribute large quantities of aid. The UN's Guterres asserted on Monday that the blockade of aid to Gaza 'is not a logistical crisis' but rather 'a crisis of political will and respect for the fundamental tenets of international humanitarian law'. UNRWA stated that all its attempts to deliver aid to northern Gaza between October 6, 2024, and November 25 were either 'denied' or 'obstructed' amid intense fighting in the region. Guterres highlighted that UNRWA serves as an 'indispensable lifeline for millions of Palestinians', adding that 'if UNRWA is compelled to shut down, the responsibility of replacing its essential services... would fall on Israel'.
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