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Israel responds to UN criticism and Gaza ‘genocide’ warning
Earlier, we reported on the top humanitarian official at the United Nations blasting Israel for “deliberately and unashamedly” imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians, including the risk of famine – one of the strongest condemnations by a high-ranking UN official during the war in Gaza.
Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the UN Security Council, warning it must “act now” to “prevent genocide“.
“I ask you to reflect, for a moment, on what actions we will tell future generations we each took to stop the 21st-century atrocity to which we bear daily witness in Gaza,” said Fletcher.
“It is a question we will hear – sometimes incredulous, sometimes furious, but always there – for the rest of our lives.”
In response to Fletcher’s remarks, the Israeli mission to the UN said, “Israel will not accept a humanitarian mechanism that props up the Hamas terror organisation that butchered our people in their homes and communities.”
What Netanyahu is doing in Gaza is ‘shameful’: France’s Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza – where half a million Palestinians face starvation – is reprehensible and Europeans should consider increasing sanctions.
“What he’s doing is shameful,” Macron said during an interview on TF1 television.
Oh harsh words.... that will definitely stop the genocide.
‘Deeply disturbed’ Norway calls on Israel to lift Gaza blockade
Norway’s Minister of International Development Asmund Aukrust made the call after a global hunger monitor reported the entire population of Gaza is facing famine as a result of Israel blocking all food and humanitarian aid from entering.
“Using starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited under international law,” Aukrust said in a post on X, adding that the United Nations and other international aid agencies must be allowed to do their job in line with humanitarian principles.
The report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative also found that about 93 percent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million is experiencing acute food shortages.
‘It’s now we need to act’: UN food official warns of Gaza famine
Antoine Renard, the UN World Food Programme’s (WFP) director for Gaza, says one-quarter of Gaza’s population is at risk of famine.
That’s despite the fact that the food needed to feed the territory’s population is sitting in warehouses in Israel, Egypt and Jordan – most of it not even 40km (25 miles) away.
Renard said that WFP warehouses in Gaza are empty, and the agency has gone from providing meals for 1 million people at the end of April to producing only 250,000 meals daily.
“Soon, we’re going to speak about the fact that people don’t even have access to a meal,” Renard warned. “Is that where we need to go to actually raise the alarm? It’s now that we need to act.”
The warnings come after food security experts said on Monday that Gaza will likely fall into famine if Israel doesn’t lift its blockade and stop its military campaign. Nearly half a million Palestinians are facing possible starvation.
