An urgent plea for a ceasefire has been made at a United Nations Security Council emergency briefing as the Gaza Strip faces a dire situation marked by rising child casualties, with Israel continuing its bombardment of the region.
Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), delivered a stark message during the meeting on Monday, emphasizing that millions in Gaza are in a life-or-death crisis, further complicated by the challenges of providing aid to over two million inhabitants in the Strip.
Escalating Humanitarian Crisis:
“The level of destruction is unprecedented, the human tragedy unfolding under our watch is unbearable,” Lazzarini declared, adding, “The current siege imposed on Gaza is collective punishment.” He highlighted the dire circumstances faced by more than half a million Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes due to Israel’s three-week-long bombing campaign. These displaced individuals are now crowded into UNRWA schools and buildings, facing severe shortages of food, water, and even a place to sleep.
Desperation and Anger:
Lazzarini also noted that hunger and despair among the population were giving rise to anger towards the international community. He expressed disappointment in the limited aid allowed into Gaza, emphasizing that what had arrived through Egypt starting last week fell far short of the required assistance.
Critical Healthcare at Risk:
Israel had begun permitting restricted aid deliveries to Gaza on October 21. However, extensive inspections of each convoy have caused significant delays. More critically, Israel refused to allow the shipment of fuel, putting the few operational hospitals in Gaza at risk of closure.
UNRWA’s Vital Role:
Desperation has driven Palestinians to break into UN warehouses in search of essential goods for survival. Lazzarini underscored that a further breakdown in civil order would seriously hinder the largest UN agency’s ability to operate effectively in Gaza. UNRWA remains a lifeline for the Palestinian population in the region.
Appeal for Aid Flow:
In a bid to increase the flow of much-needed aid, UN officials have called on Israel to open the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom for Israelis) border crossing with Gaza. They argue that this crossing is equipped to handle a large volume of aid trucks. Israel, however, has continued to keep its border crossings with the Gaza Strip sealed, imposing a land, air, and sea blockade for the past 16 years.
Alarming Child Casualties:
UN officials have also raised concerns about the alarming increase in casualties in Gaza, particularly among children. The number is unprecedented and even surpasses the toll in many other contemporary conflicts. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern, stating that more than 420 children in Gaza are being killed or injured each day.
Intensifying Ground Offensive:
Israel has warned of an even greater danger as it escalates its ground offensive into the enclave. They have ordered Gaza residents to evacuate to the southern part of the territory or risk being treated as “terrorist accomplices.” However, even in the south, Palestinians in Gaza have not found safety, as Israel continues to bomb homes in the region.
Failed Resolutions and Ongoing Conflict:
Despite multiple attempts, the UN Security Council has failed to pass resolutions calling for a ceasefire or “humanitarian pauses.” The situation has been further complicated by the vetoing of one resolution by the United States and another by Russia and China. Additional resolutions failed to garner the necessary nine votes.
The UN General Assembly did pass a resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian truce, but it is non-binding. Fourteen countries, including the US and Israel, voted against the resolution.
Furthermore, the emergency summit expressed concerns that the conflict in Gaza could lead to a broader regional conflagration. Geir Pedersen, the UN’s special envoy to Syria, warned that spillover into Syria had already begun, raising the potential for wider escalation. Israel’s air raids in Syria and Lebanon in the wake of its conflict with Hamas have heightened regional tensions.
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