Gaza war in ‘cruelest phase’ as Israel allows in ‘teaspoon’ of aid: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warns that Palestinians are enduring “the cruelest phase” of the Israeli genocidal war on the people of Gaza as the occupying regime has only authorized the entry of what amounts to a “teaspoon” of lifesaving aid after weeks of the airtight blockade on the territory.

Guterres raised the alarm in an address to reporters outside the Security Council on Friday as he once again called for a permanent ceasefire to end Israel’s protracted war in Gaza and provision of full humanitarian access so humanitarian aid can flow in following nearly 80 days of Israeli siege.

The UN chief said the people of Gaza are now “enduring what may be the cruelest phase of this cruel conflict,” with their families being “starved and denied the very basics,” as Israel has ramped up its aggression on Gaza.

Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to treat civilians in Gaza humanely, Guterres added, and “must not forcibly transport, deport or displace the civilian population of an occupied territory.”

He noted that despite authorizing a “trickle of aid” to enter in recent days, supplies from only 115 out of 400 trucks have been cleared for collection and distribution, while nothing has reached the besieged north.

“In any case, all the aid authorized until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid when a flood of assistance is required,” Guterres said, underlining that the illegal entity “must agree to allow and facilitate” humanitarian deliveries.

The UN chief stressed that Israel has been causing unnecessary delays, imposing quotas on distribution and barring essentials such as fuel, shelter and cooking gas.

“We are working around the clock to get whatever aid we can to people in need,” he said, but “needs are massive – and the obstacles are staggering.”

Warning that the entire population in Gaza is facing the risk of famine, Guterres said absent rapid, reliable, safe and sustained aid access, more Palestinians will die in the blockaded territory and any negligence may have profound long-term consequences.

The Israeli regime maintained a complete blockade on Gaza for 11 consecutive weeks from March 2 to May 18, preventing all humanitarian aid from entering the territory.

Israel has been condemned for using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians.  

The Israeli regime has also mounted its aggression on the Gaza Strip since a six-week ceasefire broke down in March.

At least 71 people were killed on Friday, while dozens of injuries and a large number of missing persons under the rubble have been reported as a result of Israeli air strikes.

‘A needle in a haystack’

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), also warned that humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip is a “needle in a haystack” as Israel has been fully closing Gaza crossings since March 2.

“The people of Gaza have been starved and deprived of the basics, including water and medicines, for more than 11 weeks. Mothers and fathers have run out of food for their children. Older people died because of a lack of medicines. The aid going in now is a needle in a haystack,” Lazzarini posted on X.

He underlined that “a meaningful and uninterrupted flow of aid is the only way to prevent the current disaster from spiraling further.”

Lazzarini pointed out that the least amount of aid needed is 500-600 daily trucks managed through the UN, including UNRWA.

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023. According to the health ministry of Gaza, it has killed at least 53,800 Palestinians there so far, mostly women and children.

In January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime’s failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the “elimination” of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

The 42-day stage of the truce, which was marred by repeated Israeli violations, expired on March 1, but Israel is refraining from stepping into talks for the second stage of the agreement.