The UN\u2019s top humanitarian official has called on Israel to open more border crossings into Gaza to boost the flow of humanitarian aid for starving Palestinians.<\/p>\n
Facilitating access for civilians is a \u201clegal obligation,\u201d not a matter of political negotiation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a statement.<\/p>\n
He said that two days after world leaders gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh to endorse the US-led peace initiative, \u201cthis is a moment of great but precarious hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also clear from the public response to the progress, that Palestinians, Israelis and people across the region want this peace to take hold,\u201d Fletcher said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, we must not fail to see through in full the implementation of the agreements made.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said UN humanitarian operations had finally begun to scale up \u201cafter months of frustration and blockages,\u201d with some food, medicine, fuel, water, cooking gas and tents delivered to those in need.<\/p>\n
However, he warned that renewed setbacks now threatened to undermine that fragile progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now tested to see whether we can ensure that these do not prevent the progress on which UN President [Donald] Trump, the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and so many leaders have insisted,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fletcher called on Hamas to \u201cmake strenuous efforts to return all the bodies of deceased hostages, urgently,\u201d and voiced concern over \u201cevidence of violence against civilians in Gaza.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also pressed Israel to allow \u201cthe massive surge of humanitarian aid \u2013 thousands of trucks a week \u2013 on which so many lives depend.\u201d Additional border crossings must be opened, he said, and remaining logistical barriers lifted to ensure aid flows freely.<\/p>\n
\u201cFacilitation of aid is a legal obligation,\u201d Fletcher stressed. \u201cWe will not accept any interference with our aid distribution.\u201d<\/p>\n
His appeal came as the UN human rights office (OHCHR) reported new allegations of serious abuses in Gaza, including summary executions and unlawful killings of civilians.<\/p>\n
Armed clashes between Hamas-affiliated groups and rival factions have intensified since 10 October, OHCHR said in a news release.<\/p>\n
On 13 October, video footage released by the Sahm Unit, reportedly linked to Gaza\u2019s Interior Ministry, showed the public execution of eight blindfolded and handcuffed men who were alleged members of a Gaza City-based family militia.<\/p>\n
OHCHR added that such acts \u201camount to a war crime,\u201d and reminded Hamas that they \u201cmust prevent and repress any violation or abuse committed by its members.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Israeli forces were reported to have opened fire on Palestinians attempting to return to their homes in eastern Gaza City on 14 October, killing three. OHCHR said it had recorded 15 Palestinian deaths in similar incidents since 10 October.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation in Gaza remains precarious and uncertain,\u201d said Ajith Sunghay, head of OHCHR in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is imperative to ensure that the ceasefire holds and progresses to recovery and the full realization of Palestinians\u2019 right to self-determination,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The UN\u2019s top humanitarian official has called on Israel to open more border crossings into Gaza to boost the flow of humanitarian aid for starving Palestinians. Facilitating access for civilians is a \u201clegal obligation,\u201d not a matter of political negotiation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a statement. He said that two days […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":508932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-508919","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n