Israel will no longer approve Unrwa food aid to northern Gaza, agency says
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa, has said that Israel had definitively barred it from delivering aid to northern Gaza, where the threat of famine is highest.
“Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve any @Unrwa food convoys to the north,” Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the agency, said on X.
“This is outrageous & makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine.”
The Unrwa spokesperson, Juliette Touma, said the decision had been relayed in a Sunday meeting with Israeli military officials. It followed two denials in writing for convoy deliveries to the north last week.
No reason for the decision to stop aid from going into the area was given, Touma said.
Gaza faces dire humanitarian conditions as Israel says it is hunting Hamas following the deadly attack in October 2023. It’s been nearly six months since the war began.
Last week a UN-backed food security assessment warned that famine will hit the north of Gaza by May unless there is an urgent intervention. Unrwa has not been able to deliver food to the north since 29 January, Touma said.