UN Says Israel's Militarised Aid In Gaza Contributes To 'Catastrophic Humanitarian Situation'
Mourners wheel a body on a medical bed, during the funeral of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire yesterday, while they sought aid in northern Gaza, according to Gaza's health ministry, outside Al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza City, June 19, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
GENEVA, June 24 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Israel's militarised approach to humanitarian aid in Gaza is exacerbating the suffering of civilians and contributing to a "catastrophic humanitarian situation," the UN human rights office said on Tuesday, warning the practice may amount to war crimes.
"Israel's militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution. It endangers civilians and contributes to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza," spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan told a briefing in Geneva.
According to Anadolu Ajansi (AA) Al-Kheetan said Palestinians in Gaza face an "inhumane choice" between starving to death or risking being killed while trying to access food.
bootstrap slideshow
Since the Israeli-approved Gaza Humanitarian Foundation began operating on May 27, "the Israeli military has shelled and shot Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, leading to many fatalities."
Reportedly, over 410 Palestinians have been killed as a result. At least 93 others are also said to have been killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organisations, he said.
According to the spokesperson, at least 3,000 others have been injured in such incidents.
"These killings must be promptly and impartially investigated," he added. "The killing and wounding of civilians resulting from the unlawful use of firearms constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime."
The UN human rights office also criticised Israel's "unlawful restrictions" on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, saying it had allowed in only a few trucks since March 2.
"The weaponisation of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law," Al-Kheetan said. "The Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
112 Palestinian children hospitalised daily in Gaza due to malnutrition
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that approximately 112 Palestinian children are being hospitalised each day in Gaza due to severe malnutrition, a direct result of Israel's ongoing blockade and military assault on the Strip, Palestine News and Info Agency (WAFA) reported. In a press statement, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as having "surpassed catastrophic levels," pointing to the devastating impact of Israel's siege and intense military attacks. Out of 36 hospitals in the Gaza Strip, only 17 are partially functioning, and none are operational in northern Gaza or in Rafah in the far south, areas hardest hit by the ongoing conflict, he said. Dr Tedros also reported that at least 500 people have been killed while trying to access food at aid distribution points controlled by the United States (US) and Israel, which operate outside the United Nations system. He said WHO was able to access Gaza this week for the first time since March 2, but only in a "very limited capacity," underscoring the extreme difficulty humanitarian agencies face in reaching those in need. The statement adds to growing international alarm over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where famine, displacement, and collapsing health services are pushing civilians, especially children, to the brink of survival amid the ongoing Israeli onslaught.
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Penang4Palestine condemns discovery of oxycodone in flour packets for Gaza
GEORGE TOWN: Penang4Palestine condemns the discovery of oxycodone pills hidden in flour packets distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid centre reportedly backed by the United States and Israel. Its chairman, MS Anuar Mahmod, said Penang4Palestine was deeply concerned over the matter, adding that at least four testimonies had reported the shocking discovery. "A local pharmacist from Gaza described it as 'the most heinous form of genocide', while a local doctor claimed it was being used as 'a tool to destroy the consciousness of our society'. "This discovery is alarming because oxycodone is a strong and highly addictive painkiller that can cause hallucinations and respiratory problems," he said in a statement Saturday (June 28). Anuar said the incident clearly reflected an abuse of humanitarian aid and amounted to a death trap through the mixing of illicit substances into basic food items. Therefore, he said Penang4Palestine was demanding an urgent investigation by the United Nations (UN) and international human rights groups into GHF and all parties involved. Earlier, Gaza authorities had called for an international investigation after oxycodone pills were discovered in flour packages distributed by GHF, a US-Israeli-backed organisation. The Gaza government media office, in a statement, said at least four residents had reported discovering the pills in food aid packages, and several witnesses believed the narcotic substance may have been crushed or mixed into the flour. - Bernama
Barnama
14 hours ago
- Barnama
Japanese Diet May Help In Fight Against Depression, Study Shows
TOKYO, June 28 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- The rate of depressive symptoms was lower among working-age people who consume a Japanese-style diet including rice, miso soup and fish, the first study of its kind recently showed, Kyodo News Agency reported. The Japan Institute for Health Security assessed the benefits of a traditional 'Japanese-style diet' comprising of soy products, cooked vegetables, mushrooms, fish, seaweed, and green tea, along with a modified version that added fruit, fresh vegetables and dairy products. While there are few studies on the Japanese diet's impact on mental health, such assessments of the Mediterranean diet -- which consists of vegetables, whole grains, olive oil and fish -- and depression have previously been conducted, the institute said.
