Israel holds the United Nations responsible for the aid crisis in Gaza

“It is unfortunately UNRWA and others, and the World Food Program as well, who spend their time simply perpetuating this conflict rather than pulling their fingers and actually doing the job they were designed to do. Stop blaming Israel.”

These statements come as part of a series of attacks on the United Nations and its Secretary-General by Israeli officials in recent weeks. Mencer added: “We must stop this aura surrounding the United Nations as a force for good. “Unfortunately, in many cases, they are not a force for good.”

But aid groups say aid distribution in Gaza has become increasingly dangerous and difficult amid the ongoing military operation in the south, vehicle and fuel shortages, and increasing attacks on aid trucks by desperate civilians and criminal gangs. The United Nations has long accused Israel of obstructing aid deliveries through burdensome inspections and restrictions, as well as a lack of coordination with its agencies.

World Food Program on Tuesday The results supported Of the latest Analysis of the Integrated Phase Classification for Food Security (IPC).which said that the “high risk of famine” “continues as long as the conflict persists, and humanitarian access is restricted.”

The IPC analysis found that about 500,000 Palestinians are on the brink of starvation. World Food Programme He said The IPC findings are consistent with its own concerns “about persistent levels of extreme hunger throughout the Gaza Strip.”

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a press conference on Tuesday that the situation had become “increasingly unbearable.” He added that more than 200 humanitarian workers have been killed since the outbreak of the war, and that humanitarian operations “have repeatedly been in the crosshairs in Gaza.”

At a news conference on Wednesday, Manser suggested, without providing evidence, that “many” of the aid workers killed were working with armed groups in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly confirmed that it allows hundreds of trucks to enter southern Gaza every day. In a tweet on Tuesday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories claimed that “there was no looting or security concerns, just a lack of motivation.” But aid workers say the security situation has hampered their efforts to actually distribute aid.

Dujarric said that UN officials have made contact with Israeli authorities in recent days to demand better protection of aid workers and facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Dujarric said that UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gilles Michaud, discussed the situation with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories this week. This conversation was preceded by a letter on June 17 from Muhannad Hadi, the UN resident official coordinating aid to Gaza. Dujarric declined to describe Israel’s response.

As The Washington Post previously reported, the United Nations has informed Israel that it may not be able to continue its role as a major aid provider inside Gaza if the security situation for humanitarian workers does not improve.

Dujarric said on Tuesday that the United Nations continues to provide aid wherever and whenever it can, and when asked he did not directly address the issue a report The Associated Press reported that senior UN officials told Israel that it would suspend its operations if Israel did not do more to protect aid workers.

“I am not talking about suspending operations,” Dujarric said. “The way forward is not a mystery. … It is on the table, it is a humanitarian ceasefire. It is the free and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip. It is the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”

Here’s what else you should know

A group of prominent Israelis said Congress made a “grave mistake” by inviting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak. The group, which includes former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, wrote in an article Editorial The New York Times reported that inviting Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress on July 24 “will reward his scandalous and destructive behavior toward our country.” The group said Netanyahu “failed to come up with a plan to end the war in Gaza” or release all the hostages, and showed “disdain” for the proposed US-led peace plan.

representative. Jamal Bowman (DN.Y.) He lost his re-election bid. In a Democratic primary race dominated by controversy over Israel and Gaza. Bowman, who has long criticized Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, angered some Jewish voters and drew the ire of local and national pro-Israel groups when, in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre, he called for a ceasefire and ceasefire. Israel was accused of committing genocide. Westchester County Executive George Latimer, Bowman’s opponent in the primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District, He has received significant financial support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The race was the most expensive House primary in history.

At least 37,718 people have been killed and 86,377 others injured in Gaza since the start of the war. According to the Ministry of Health in GazaIt does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but says the majority of those killed were women and children. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas attack on October 7, including more than 300 soldiers, and says. 314 soldiers They were killed since the start of its military operations in Gaza.

Karen DeYoung, Colby Itkowitz, Louisa Lovelock, Jennifer Hassan and Sarah Daadoush contributed to this report.