In occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli protesters have made their way into the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) compound, an act deemed illegal. This protest occurs against the backdrop of a significant humanitarian crisis, as the Israeli military coordination unit COGAT reported that only 388 trucks have delivered aid to Gaza since last Monday. This marks the first aid to enter the region following over two months of a severe blockade, which has drastically escalated hunger levels.
James Elder, a spokesperson for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), emphasized the dire situation, stating, “We are on the back of 11 weeks of nothing entering the Gaza Strip-no food, no medicines, aside from bombs.” He described the aid that recently reached Gaza as “painfully inadequate,” suggesting it reflects more of a “token” gesture rather than a genuine effort to address the severe hunger crisis affecting children and civilians. UN-backed food security experts have warned that approximately one in five Gazans, or around 500,000 people, face starvation.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military operations in northern Gaza have intensified, reportedly resulting in the deaths of at least 50 individuals due to airstrikes. One of these strikes targeted a school in Gaza City that was serving as shelter for people displaced by prolonged violence. Disturbing footage showed a child navigating through a classroom engulfed in flames after the attack. In a separate incident, airstrikes also struck a home in Gaza City, killing four people, according to local health authorities.
The UNRWA has reported that its shelters are overwhelmed with displaced persons desperately seeking safety amidst the chaos. The agency highlighted the appalling living conditions, with many families forced to seek refuge in unfinished or damaged buildings. “Sanitation conditions are dire; in some cases, hundreds of people are sharing a single toilet, while others, including children and pregnant women, are sleeping in the open,” the agency stated.
The agricultural landscape in Gaza paints a grim picture, with less than five percent of the Strip’s farmland currently viable for cultivation, as per findings by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT). Using high-resolution imagery, these organizations have confirmed that over 80 percent of Gaza’s cultivated land-approximately 12,537 hectares-has suffered damage due to ongoing conflict. A staggering 77.8 percent of this land remains inaccessible to farmers, leaving merely 688 hectares available for crop production, particularly in regions like Rafah and northern governorates.
Following the protest at the UNRWA compound, a spokesperson from the agency revealed that at least one member of the Israeli Knesset participated in the demonstration. This incident coincided with a national holiday in Israel, commemorating the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967, which led to the occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the UNRWA facility has previously faced arson attacks. In January, UNRWA staff were withdrawn from the compound following the enactment of an Israeli law prohibiting the agency’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem, although the location remains a UN facility protected under international law.
As the situation continues to evolve, the need for substantial humanitarian aid in Gaza remains critical, underscoring the urgency for international attention and support to alleviate the suffering of the affected population.
Original Source: https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2025/05/1163681
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Publish Date: 2025-05-26 17:30:00
