Gaza: On Thursday, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, called on the Israeli occupation authorities to "lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip to allow aid into the Strip, as preventing it starves civilians, leaves them without basic medical support, strips them of hope, and imposes harsh collective punishment."
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Fletcher stated in a press statement that the Israeli occupation authorities made a deliberate decision two months ago to prevent all aid from reaching Gaza and "halt our efforts to rescue survivors of its military offensive." He stressed that international law is unequivocal, saying: "Blocking aid kills."
Fletcher emphasized that "humanitarian agencies are independent, neutral, and impartial, and believe that all civilians deserve equal protection." He stressed that workers remain ready to save as many lives as possible, despite the risks.
Fletcher addressed the Israeli occupation authorities, and those still able to persuade them, saying, "We say again: Lift this cruel closure and let humanitarian workers save lives." The UN official added, "As for the civilians left unprotected, no apology is enough, but I am truly sorry that we have failed to urge the international community to prevent this injustice."