a day ago
BRIEFING NOTES: Israel-OPT
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Thameen Al-Kheetan
Location: Geneva
Date:
Subject: Israel-OPT
Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food.
Since the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' started operating on 27 May, 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 have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organisations. At least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in these incidents.
Each of these killings must be promptly and impartially investigated, and those responsible must be held to account. The killing and wounding of civilians resulting from the unlawful use of firearms constitute a grave breach of international law, and a war crime.
Palestinians across Gaza are suffering from hunger and the lack of other lifesaving necessities. The Gaza Strip remains on the verge of famine as a result of Israel's closure and blockade, as well as ongoing unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance. This adds to Israel's systematic destruction of local food production and the economy, as well as the repeated forced mass displacements over the past 20 months.
Israel also continues to impose severe restrictions on the work of the UN and other humanitarian organisations, preventing them from bringing and distributing food, fuel and lifesaving assistance into Gaza. Only a very few trucks have been allowed in since 2 March 2025.
We are seeing scenes of chaos around the food distribution points of the 'Gaza Humanitarian Foundation' and the few UN humanitarian convoys. Women, children, older and disabled people in particular are facing multiple challenges at these points, and are potentially at risk of aggravated forms of exploitation and abuse.
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. 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.
The Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food. Israel must also allow the entry of food and other humanitarian assistance needed to sustain the lives of Palestinians in Gaza in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles. It must immediately lift its unlawful restrictions on the work of UN and other humanitarian actors. Third States have the obligation to take concrete steps to ensure that Israel, the occupying power in Gaza, complies with its duty to ensure that sufficient food and lifesaving necessities are provided to the population.
