Israel blames UN for Gaza support situation

“It is unfortunately UNRWA and others, and the World Food Program is another, who spend their time perpetuating this conflict rather than sticking their finger out and actually doing the work they were designed to do. Stop blaming Israel,” he said.

The comments are part of a series of attacks on the United Nations and its secretary-general by Israeli officials in recent weeks. “We must stop giving this impression of the United Nations being a force for good,” Menser said. Unfortunately, in many, many cases, they are not a force for good.”

However aid groups say it has become more unhealthy and difficult to distribute aid in Gaza amid the ongoing military campaign in the south, shortages of cars and gasoline, and increasing attacks on aid trucks by desperate civilians and criminal gangs. , The United States has consistently accused Israel of continuing its deliveries through tough assessments and sanctions, in addition to a lack of coordination with its businesses.

WFP on Tuesday backed the findings of an unedited Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) study, saying there is a “high risk” of famine “as long as conflict continues, and humanitarian access is restricted.”

IPC research revealed that approximately 500,000 Palestinians are preparing to die of starvation. WFP said the IPC’s findings matched its personal concerns “regarding the current level of severe hunger in the Gaza Strip”.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told a news briefing on Tuesday that the situation had become “increasingly unbearable”. More than 200 humanitarian workers have been killed since the war, he said, and humanitarian operations “have been repeatedly called into question” in Gaza.

Menser said at a briefing on Wednesday, without providing any evidence, that “many” of the aid workers killed were working with terrorist groups in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly said it is allowing large numbers of vans into southern Gaza every day. In a tweet on Tuesday, the Coordinator of Executive Activities within the Territories (COGAT) claimed that “there is no looting or security concerns, only lack of motivation.” However aid workers say the security situation has hindered their efforts to actually distribute aid.

Dujarric said UN officials have recently contacted the Israeli government demanding that it provide better protection for aid workers and facilitate the access of additional humanitarian aid into Gaza.

According to Dujarric, Gilles Michaud, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, discussed the situation with COGAT on this date. The communication was made through a letter dated June 17 from Muhannad Hadi, the local UN legal adviser coordinating Gaza aid. Dujarric declined to specify Israel’s response.

As The Washington Post has previously reported, the United Nations has told Israel that it will not be able to continue its role as the main provider of aid inside Gaza if the security situation for humanitarian workers is not strengthened.

Dujarric said Tuesday that the United Nations would continue to provide support whenever and wherever possible and, when requested, indirectly addressed a report via the Associated Press in which senior UN officials criticized Israel. Had advised Israel to stop the operation if Israel did not do so. Additional to provide security to support staff.

“I am not talking about suspending operations,” Dujarric said. “The way forward is not a mystery. …It’s on the table, it’s a humanitarian ceasefire. This ensures the free and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip. This is the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

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A group of prominent Israelis said Congress made “a terrible mistake” by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak. The crowd, which included former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, wrote in an article published by the New York Times that the invitation to Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on July 24 “reveals his reprehensible and destructive conduct toward our country.” Will reward.” The crowd said Netanyahu “has failed to come up with a plan to end the war in Gaza or free all hostages” and has proven “contemptuous” for the US-led proposed Gaza plan.

Representative Jamal Bowman (D-N.Y.) got his re-election bid wrong The Democratic number one race ruled through the debate over Israel and Gaza. Bowman, who has long been critical of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, angered some Jewish constituents and drew the ire of local and national pro-Israel groups when, shortly after the October 7 massacre, he stopped short of Called for. Opened fire and accused Israel of genocide. Westchester County Governor George Latimer, Bowman’s rival in the primary for the Sixteenth Congressional District of New York, Received significant monetary support from the American Israel National Affairs Committee. This race used to be the most expensive competition in history.

At least 37,718 people have been killed and 86,377 injured in Gaza since the war began. According to the Ministry of Gaza Situation. It does not distinguish between civilians and warring parties but says the majority of those killed were women and children. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ October 7 attack, including more than 300 soldiers, and it says 314 soldiers have been killed since the start of its military operation in Gaza.

Karen DeYoung, Colby Itkowitz, Louisa Lovelock, Jennifer Hasson and Sarah Dadouch contributed to this file.