UN Aid Chief Slams “Deliberate Deprivation” as Gazans Killed Seeking Food

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher issued a scathing indictment Wednesday, stating that the “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while attempting to obtain food aid are a direct consequence of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of basic necessities. This strong condemnation comes amid escalating violence around aid distribution sites, highlighting a desperate situation where civilians are risking their lives for sustenance. The international community is increasingly alarmed by the ongoing crisis, with calls for accountability growing louder.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by the US and Israel, announced the temporary suspension of its operations Wednesday. This decision follows a series of deadly incidents near their distribution centers, including a Tuesday attack that killed 27 people in southern Gaza. The Israeli military stated it is investigating the incident, but the repeated targeting of civilians near aid sites raises serious questions about protection and responsibility.
Fletcher echoed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’s demand for immediate independent investigations into these “not isolated incidents.” He emphasized that “no-one should have to risk their life to feed their children,” underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the Gaza Strip. The UN official stressed the urgent need for unfettered access for aid agencies to deliver life-saving supplies to the embattled population.
The UN and major aid groups have distanced themselves from the GHF, citing concerns that it serves Israeli military objectives rather than purely humanitarian ones. Fletcher reiterated the UN’s readiness to deliver aid, calling for the opening of all crossings, an end to restrictions on aid volume and type, and the implementation of a ceasefire to alleviate the immense suffering in Gaza.