SRINAGAR: The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is worsening rapidly as Israeli military operations continue, with starvation, displacement, and civilian deaths mounting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Friday.
OCHA reported that two more people died from starvation on Thursday, underscoring the growing impact of food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The scarcity of fuel and supplies has crippled Gaza’s healthcare and sanitation systems, with community kitchens and hospitals struggling to operate.
Humanitarian aid access remains critically constrained. Of 15 UN-coordinated missions on Thursday, only five were completed. Israeli restrictions continue to hamper the delivery of essential relief, despite a slight increase in fuel supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing after more than four months of blockade.
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, reiterated the UN’s readiness to scale up aid delivery. In a message shared with Member States and addressed to the head of the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), Fletcher emphasised that any partnerships must respect the principles of humanity, neutrality, and independence.
In a stark address to the Security Council, Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, warned that Gaza has become “a nightmare of historic proportions.” Since June 30, at least 1,891 Palestinians have been killed, including 294 reportedly shot while trying to collect aid near militarised distribution points. Thirteen Israeli soldiers have also died during the same period.
Khiari condemned a deadly Israeli strike on Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church on July 17 that killed three and displaced over 600 civilians sheltering inside. The Israeli government attributed the attack to “stray ammunition” and has launched an investigation.
He also highlighted rising tensions in the occupied West Bank, where ongoing Israeli operations, settler violence, and economic collapse are pushing the Palestinian Authority toward a governance crisis. Withheld revenues totalling $2.7 billion have crippled the PA’s ability to provide essential services.
Khiari further warned of escalating tensions along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon, and renewed hostilities in Syria, urging all parties to avoid further escalation.
Reaffirming the UN’s commitment to a two-State solution, Khiari said peace and security can only be achieved through a political horizon where Israel and a sovereign Palestinian state, including Gaza, coexist within secure and recognised borders based on the pre-1967 lines.
