Humanitarian organizations accused Israel of obstructing their work in Gaza. While the United Nations (UN) warned that a quarter of the population in the Gaza Strip is „on the brink of famine“ due to insufficient food aid, Doctors Without Borders accused Israel of neglecting to protect health facilities from attacks. UN organizations state that the staff is overwhelmed and convoys are systematically denied access. At least 576,000 people are just one step away from famine, and a widespread famine could be „inevitable“ if no action is taken, a senior UN humanitarian official warned the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Ramesh Rajasingham, Compliance Manager of the UN Humanitarian Compliance Office, emphasized the need for a ceasefire, stating that ongoing conflicts pose a risk of spreading to densely populated areas in the southern Gaza Strip. He reiterated the demand for a ceasefire. UN officials reported that one in six children under the age of two in the northern Gaza Strip is malnourished. Rajasingham highlighted that 2.3 million besieged Palestinians have no choice but to rely on food aid to survive, stressing that this aid is „inadequate.“ This includes clashes, checkpoint closures, movement and connectivity restrictions, detailed approval processes, damaged roads, and unexploded ordnance. Israel’s Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Jonathan Miller, told the UN Security Council that „Israel is determined to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.“ He stated that aid to Gaza depends on the capacity of the United Nations and other organizations, emphasizing that there are no limits to the extent of humanitarian assistance that can be sent to the civilian population in Gaza. The United States urged its ally Israel to keep border crossings open to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, emphasized the need for Israel to do more and streamline procedures for safe aid distribution. Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Carl Skau, informed the Security Council that they are ready to rapidly scale up and expand their operations in case of a ceasefire. However, the inability to bring essential food supplies to Gaza in sufficient quantities and the conditions faced by their staff make it impossible to work on the ground, increasing the risk of famine. Guyana’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues, condemned the use of hunger as a war tactic and those who deliberately use it as a tool against the population of Gaza. Doctors Without Borders stated in a written declaration on Tuesday that „nowhere in Gaza is safe for civilians or those trying to assist them.“ They pointed out that Israel’s „complete disregard“ for the protection of health facilities and humanitarian workers makes it „almost impossible“ to save lives and provide medical care. The statement included reports of evacuation orders for health facilities, surrounding and repeated attacks on these facilities, as well as arrests, harassment, and killings of healthcare workers and patients during patient care. The organization had to leave the Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, due to the shooting, leaving patients behind. Vehicles of Doctors Without Borders staff were stopped at checkpoints, causing delays in emergency medical care. The situation in northern Gaza was reported to be even worse, with people lacking access to basic food, water, and treatment. A nurse in northern Gaza stated, „There is no hospital that can offer even basic treatment, there are no medications in the pharmacies.“ „My children have been ill for weeks due to lack of clean water and adequate nutrition, and their condition is deteriorating.“ The declaration called for an urgent ceasefire.
