A senior official with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has declared that Israel’s ongoing restrictions on aid deliveries into the Gaza Strip constitute a breach of international law. The official warns that the population faces severe shortages of food and essential supplies as winter conditions begin.
The official stated that sufficient aid, including food and shelter materials to fill thousands of trucks, is stockpiled and ready for delivery but remains blocked outside Gaza. It is estimated that only roughly half of the required daily aid convoys are currently being permitted entry into the territory.
Citing the Fourth Geneva Convention and recent international court rulings, the official asserted that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obligated to ensure the flow of essential goods to civilians. The official called on the international community, including major powers, to increase pressure to lift these restrictions.
The remarks also addressed the critical funding shortfall facing UNRWA, which provides vital services to millions of registered Palestinian refugees across the region. The agency described itself as “irreplaceable” in the current crisis, emphasizing that its collapse would have devastating humanitarian consequences.
Beyond immediate aid, the official highlighted the profound long-term impact on Gaza’s children, tens of thousands of whom have been orphaned or traumatized by the conflict. The warning was issued that without a credible political solution and a future for the youth, the cycle of violence risks continuing.
The official concluded by stressing that a lasting peace requires a political settlement, arguing that military action alone cannot guarantee security for either Israelis or Palestinians.