{"id":257932,"date":"2024-03-25T12:00:39","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T12:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=257932"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:45:34","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T11:45:34","slug":"israel-tells-un-it-will-reject-unrwa-food-convoys-into-northern-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2024\/03\/israel-tells-un-it-will-reject-unrwa-food-convoys-into-northern-gaza\/","title":{"rendered":"Israel Tells UN It Will Reject UNRWA Food Convoys into Northern Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"views-field views-field-field-news-story-lead\">\n<div class=\"field-content\">\n<div id=\"attachment_257939\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29.jpg\" ><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-257939\" class=\"wp-image-257939\" src=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29-1024x464.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29-1024x464.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29-300x136.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29-768x348.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/gaza-israel-genocide-palestine-29.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-257939\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gaza 2024 &#8211; UN News<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>24 Mar 2024 &#8211;<em>\u00a0 Israeli authorities informed the United Nations today that it will no longer approve the passage of any UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, food convoys into northern Gaza.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAs of today, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNRWA<\/a>, the main lifeline for Palestine refugees, is denied from providing lifesaving assistance to northern Gaza,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unrwa.org\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">UNRWA<\/a> Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in a social media post on X.<\/p>\n<p>He called the decision \u201coutrageous\u201d, saying it was made to intentionally obstruct lifesaving aid deliveries during a man-made famine in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n<p>He underlined the need to lift this ban, adding that UNRWA \u2013 the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza \u2013 is the largest relief agency in the Strip and has the greatest ability to reach displaced communities there.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udccd# Gaza: as of today, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNRWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >@UNRWA<\/a>, the main lifeline for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Palestine?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >#Palestine<\/a> Refugees, is denied from providing lifesaving assistance to northern Gaza. <\/p>\n<p>Despite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli Authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve  any <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNRWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >@UNRWA<\/a> food\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lfp9xRQuh1\" >pic.twitter.com\/lfp9xRQuh1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNLazzarini\/status\/1771917857598693549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" >March 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Restrictions must be lifted&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cDespite the tragedy unfolding under our watch, the Israeli authorities informed the UN that they will no longer approve\u00a0 any UNRWA food convoys to the north. This is outrageous &amp; makes it intentional to obstruct lifesaving assistance during a man-made famine,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese restrictions must be lifted,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBy preventing UNRWA to fulfill its mandate in Gaza, the clock will tick faster towards famine &amp; many more will die of hunger, dehydration + lack of shelter,\u201d he warned. \u201cThis cannot happen, it would only stain our collective humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>WHO slams fresh aid ban<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>World Health Organization (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.who.int\/en\/\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WHO<\/a>) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus slammed the new order.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlocking UNRWA from delivering food is in fact denying starving people the ability to survive,\u201d he said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrTedros\/status\/1771948003303006238\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">social media post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis decision must be urgently reversed,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe levels of hunger are acute. All efforts to deliver food should not only be permitted but there should be an immediate acceleration of food deliveries.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>UN relief chief: UNRWA is &#8216;beating heart&#8217; of aid in Gaza<\/h2>\n<p>UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths echoed that message.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have urged Israel to lift all impediments on aid to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Gaza?src=hashtag_click\" class=\"css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21\" dir=\"ltr\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gaza<\/a>. Now this \u2013 MORE impediments,&#8221; he wrote on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UNReliefChief\/status\/1771979492250034311\"  target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;UNRWA is the beating heart of the humanitarian response in Gaza,&#8221; he stated.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The decision to block its food convoys to the north only pushes thousands closer to famine,&#8221; he warned. &#8220;It must be revoked.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Famine warnings<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report on Gaza Strip stated last week that <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/03\/1147656\" >famine is imminent<\/a> in the northern part of the Strip and is expected to occur between now and May in the two northern governorates, which are home to about 300,000 people.<\/p>\n<p>Upon the report\u2019s release, UN Secretary General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres described the findings as an \u201cappalling indictment of conditions on the ground for civilians\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPalestinians in Gaza are enduring horrifying levels of hunger and suffering,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cThis is an entirely man-made disaster, and the report makes clear that it can be halted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read our explainer on what famine is <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/03\/1147661\" >here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"context-un_news_full_width_credit_caption type-entermedia_image media media--type-entermedia-image media--view-mode-un-news-full-width-credit-caption\">\n<div class=\"field field--name-thumbnail field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" title=\"A UN mission to Al-Shifa Hospital in mid-March delivered fuel, medical supplies and food parcels.\" src=\"https:\/\/global.unitednations.entermediadb.net\/assets\/mediadb\/services\/module\/asset\/downloads\/preset\/Collections\/Embargoed\/14-03-2024_WHO_Gaza.jpg\/image1170x530cropped.jpg\" alt=\"A UN mission to Al-Shifa Hospital in mid-March delivered fuel, medical supplies and food parcels.\" width=\"1170\" height=\"530\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"field field--name-field-title field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item\">A UN mission to Al-Shifa Hospital in mid-March delivered fuel, medical supplies and food parcels.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a9 WHO<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>In Egypt, UN chief calls for flooding Gaza with aid<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The UN chief is currently in the region on his <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/03\/1147901\" >annual Ramadan solidarity trip<\/a>, having visited with Palestinian women and children injured by Israeli attacks on Gaza, and strongly renewed his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. His trip included a visit to the Rafah border crossing into Gaza and planned meetings in Egypt and Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier on Sunday, Mr. Guterres met the press in Cairo, reiterating that call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPalestinians in Gaza desperately need what has been promised: a flood of aid,\u201d he said, \u201cnot trickles, not drops.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said some progress has been made, but much more needs to be done, and making that increasing aid flows requires very practical steps.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Israel must remove &#8216;chokepoints to relief&#8217;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cIt requires Israel removing the remaining obstacles and chokepoints to relief,\u201d Mr. Guterres explained. \u201cIt requires more crossings and access points. All alternative routes are, of course, welcome, but the only efficient and effective way to move heavy goods is by road. It requires an exponential increase in commercial goods, and, I repeat, it requires an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He said efforts must ensure that ample aid shipments are delivered as soon as possible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe current horrors in Gaza serve no one and are having an impact around the globe,\u201d he said. \u201cThe daily assault on the human dignity of Palestinians is creating a crisis of credibility for the international community.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"row g-0\">\n<div class=\"col-sm-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-1x1\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"UNWRA LEFT Original\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/21ddacf4-e3fd-4c9e-8e68-5912046da174?src=embed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-sm-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"ratio ratio-1x1\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"UNRWA Right original\" src=\"https:\/\/e.infogram.com\/4376cf37-599d-41b8-bfb4-47b58cd1a177?src=embed\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><strong>US financing situation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Early on Sunday, UNRWA\u2019s Commissioner-General said that there will be widespread consequences for Palestine refugees in Gaza and the region following the newly passed United States foreign aid spending bill for 2024, which limits funding to the agency until March 2025.<\/p>\n<p>He said the humanitarian community in Gaza is racing against time to avoid famine and that any gap in funding for UNRWA will undermine access to food, shelter, primary health care and education at an extremely difficult time.<\/p>\n<p>Palestine refugees are counting on the international community to increase its support to meet their basic needs, he said.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>UNRWA will continue its mandate<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>UNRWA supports about 5.9 million Palestinian refugees in its five areas of operations: Gaza, the West Bank including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Lazzarini expressed his appreciation for UNRWA\u2019s supporters from members of the US Congress \u201cwho are speaking on behalf of the agency during this difficult period\u201d and for US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken\u2019s support last week with the European Union.<\/p>\n<p>The UNRWA chief stressed that the agency will continue to work with the US on the path of joint commitment towards Palestine refugees and peace and stability throughout the region.<\/p>\n<p>He said that UNRWA, along with donors and partners, will continue to implement its mandate entrusted to it by the UN General Assembly to protect the rights of Palestine refugees until a lasting political solution is reached.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2024\/03\/1147916\" >Go to Original &#8211; news.un.org<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>24 Mar 2024 &#8211;\u00a0Israeli authorities informed the United Nations today that it will no longer approve the passage of any UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, food convoys into northern Gaza.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":109474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[532,1854,1199,87,865,1643,1029,1966,1644,88,2416,715,427,124,70,965,1025],"class_list":["post-257932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-united-nations","tag-colonialism","tag-crimes-against-humanity","tag-ethnic-cleansing","tag-gaza","tag-genocide","tag-genocide-convention","tag-hamas","tag-hunger","tag-international-court-of-justice-icj","tag-israel","tag-israeli-occupation","tag-massacre","tag-palestine","tag-united-nations","tag-usa","tag-war-crimes","tag-west-bank"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257932"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":257943,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257932\/revisions\/257943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}