UN Rights Office Says Israel Still Imposing ‘Unlawful’ Restrictions on Gaza Aid

 

A top US official has said famine is already occurring in northern Gaza

by Dave DeCamp April 16, 2024 at 6:13 pm ET 

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The UN’s Human Rights Office said on Tuesday that Israel is still imposing “unlawful” restrictions on aid entering Gaza despite US and Israeli claims that there’s been an increase in deliveries, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

After Israel slaughtered seven workers for the World Central Kitchen on April 1, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government made a commitment to allow more aid into the Strip, but the UN says aid levels are still way below the bare minimum of what’s needed.

“Israel continues to impose unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance and to carry out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office.

Shamdasani added that “those delivering or trying to access humanitarian assistance must never be attacked.” Last week, UNICEF workers reported that a vehicle they were traveling in was hit by Israeli gunfire, but nobody was hurt.

Samantha Power, the head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has said she believes famine is already occurring in parts of northern Gaza due to the US-backed Israeli siege.

Despite the acknowledgment from a high-level US official, the US continues to provide military aid and intelligence support to Israel and refuses to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Less attention has been on the situation in Gaza in recent days following the Iranian attack on Israel, which came in response to Israel bombing an Iranian consulate in Damascus.

https://news.antiwar.com/2024/04/16/un-rights-office-says-israel-still-imposing-unlawful-restrictions-on-gaza-aid/