IMAGE: Children in Gaza struggle to survive amid bombs and aid blockade (Source: NBC News)
In a recent internal memo obtained by the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), led by the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, which includes heads of UN entities and NGOs, Israel has revealed its supposed “aid delivery plan”, and went on to inform the United Nations of its intention to employ a US private security firm, as well as other private firms, for ‘managing aid distribution’ in the Gaza Strip.
However, the UN issued a statement on Sunday declaring the UN Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator’s refusal to engage with this proposal, citing a breach of its fundamental principles. Israel has greenlit a strategy to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip, with intentions to maintain a presence there indefinitely, according to two Israeli officials. This action, if carried out, would significantly escalate Israel’s activities in the Gaza Strip and is expected to provoke a strong international backlash.
Israel’s new strategy, whose claimed aim is to defeat Hamas and free hostages, will inevitably displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza, ultimately worsening the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli officials said the plan included the “capturing of the strip and the holding of territories” whilst hindering the militant group Hamas from distributing humanitarian assistance. The Israeli authorities’ claim of a gradual rollout has sparked outrage among hostage families.
DOCUMENT: Statement by the Humanitarian Country Team of the Occupied Palestinian Territory – on principled aid delivery in Gaza (Source: United Nations – OCHA)
Statement OCHA
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The ongoing genocide in Gaza has forced over 90% of its population to flee, often repeatedly, transforming the area into a desolate wasteland. In light of this, the suggested plan seems aimed at tightening control over essential resources as a means of exerting pressure, reflecting a military agenda rather than a humanitarian one…
IMAGE: Israel Starvation Policy -A man-made famine (Source: The Economist)
Barak Ravid reports for AXIOS…
UN and aid groups denounce Israeli-U.S. plan for Gaza aid delivery
The UN and all aid organisations operating in Gaza jointly announced they would not cooperate with an Israeli-U.S. plan to establish a new mechanism for aid delivery to Palestinians in the enclave because it “contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles.”
Why it matters: Israel has been blocking the delivery of all food, water, and medicine to Gaza since the ceasefire broke down two months ago. Now that the UN has rejected the new plan, it’s very unlikely donor countries will fund it, putting the resumption of aid further into doubt.
- UN aid agencies say food supplies in Gaza will run out within days. Israeli officials claim they will completely run out in three to four weeks.
Catch up quick: Axios reported on Friday that the U.S., Israel and representatives of a new international foundation were close to an agreement on how to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza without it being controlled by Hamas.
- According to that plan, aid operations in Gaza would be channeled through an internationally governed foundation, backed by nation states and philanthropic entities.
- Israeli officials said that according to the plan, several compounds would be built in part of Gaza and Palestinian civilians will be able to go there once per week to receive one aid package per family that will be sufficient for seven days.
What they’re saying: The heads of all UN agencies and NGO who operate in Gaza said in a joint statement on Sunday that the plan Israeli officials presented to them was unacceptable and would not enable the delivery of aid to “less mobile and most vulnerable people.”
- “It contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic — as part of a military strategy. It is dangerous, driving civilians into militarised zones to collect rations, threatening lives, including those of humanitarian workers, while further entrenching forced displacement,” they said in the statement.
- The UN and the aid organisations said they see the plan as a way for Israel to shut down the existing aid distribution system run by the UN and replace it with a new system controlled by the Israeli military.
- “The UN Secretary-General and the Emergency Relief Coordinator have made clear that we will not participate in any scheme that does not adhere to the global humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. The heads of all UN entities and non-governmental organisations have unanimously affirmed this position”, they added.
A source involved in the formation of the new foundation said its operations in Gaza are going to be independent and not under the control of the IDF.
- “No aid has entered in 2 months, and Gazans are suffering. We believe that something must be done urgently, and the goal of the independent Foundation we are establishing is to find urgent and workable solutions to that end – solutions that will adhere to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence,” the source said.
The other side: A State Department official criticised the decision by the UN and the aid groups.
- “Folks found a creative, outside-the-box thinking solution to a difficult problem. This is something people should celebrate and support, especially given the needs of Gazans. Not to mention that it is a really bad optic for these groups to be on the same side as terrorist Hamas on this,” the official told me.
State of play: The suspension of aid deliveries and the resumption of Israeli strikes have once again displaced thousands of Palestinian civilians, delving the enclave further into a chaotic situation that has resulted in widespread looting and lawlessness.
- The Israeli security cabinet convened on Sunday to approve the mobilisation of tens of thousands of reserve troops and approve the plans to expand the ground operation in Gaza.
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