UNICEF spokesman ‘shocked’ by extent of malnutrition in Gaza
UNICEF spokesman James Elder, currently in Gaza, has described the “horrors” he witnessed within just 24 hours.
Speaking from al-Mawasi, Elder told Al Jazeera that Gaza’s hospitals and streets are filled with malnourished children. “I’m seeing teenage boys in tears, showing me their ribs,” he said, noting that children were pleading for food.
He described people so desperate they walk kilometres to aid centres – despite knowing “massacres” have recently taken place there.
“Imagine knowing there’d be a massacre, but being so desperate to feed your family that you still go,” he said, blaming the Israel-US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for enabling the violence and then shutting down operations without delivering enough aid.
Displaced Palestinian children in northern Gaza City
UN humanitarian chief says aid must be let into Gaza at scale
Tom Fletcher says a series of “deliberate choices” have deprived more than two million people of life-saving assistance in Gaza.
“Open all of the crossings. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. Lift restrictions on what and how much aid we can bring in. Ensure our convoys aren’t held up by delays and denials,” he said.
“Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire. Let us work.”
Open all of the crossings. Let in lifesaving aid at scale, from all directions. ⁰⁰Lift restrictions on what & how much aid we can bring in. Ensure our convoys aren’t held up by delays and denials.⁰⁰Release the hostages. Implement the ceasefire.⁰⁰Let us work. pic.twitter.com/g6Y5pzDcbI
— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) June 4, 2025
Clear surge in Israeli attacks across Gaza
Israeli missiles continue to assail Gaza and there’s been a focus in the past two hours on targeting residential areas in Deir el-Balah.
We have seen different distressing images of Israeli bombings, and we have also recorded a new air strike on the al-Mawasi area. Three Palestinians were killed in the attack, including two children.
This reflects a very confusing Israeli strategy. The military has been calling residents, telling them to move to al-Mawasi. Families packed up and started to set up tents in this very tiny strip of land that continues to be bombarded by Israeli ground and air forces.
There has been a clear surge of attacks, the latest on Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where the water system has been critically destroyed.
Palestinians being ‘stripped of their human dignity’: Red Cross boss
Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, says humanitarian conditions in Gaza have become worse since April, when the Strip was “hell on Earth”.
“The fact that we are watching people being entirely stripped of their human dignity should really shock our collective conscience,” she said in an interview.
The world is seeing a type of warfare in Gaza that “shows utmost disrespect for civilians”.
"The fact that we are watching people being entirely stripped of their human dignity should really shock our collective conscience."
Mirjana Spoljaric, ICRC President, shared with @BowenBBC about the dire situation for civilians in Gaza and made a call for leaders to act now👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/aF99fzcGWP
— ICRC (@ICRC) June 4, 2025
