UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini has written an opinion piece stating that humanitarian aid in Gaza has been made conditional.
He said, “Humanitarian assistance is withheld or delivered according to political and military agendas to which the United Nations is not privy.”
He asserted that “food, water and fuel are being systematically used as weapons of war in Gaza, as is disinformation.”
The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory made a statement as the world marks 75 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Article 1 of this pledge states “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”.
“To give life to the Universal Declaration in Palestine, we need an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and, ultimately, an end to the occupation, guarantee the rights of the Palestinians to self-determination, and provide justice and equality for the peoples of both Palestine and Israel,” the office said.
The UN office also said Palestinians in Gaza face death, siege, destruction and deprivation of the most essential human needs.
More than 70 percent of those killed in Israeli attacks have been women and children. “Those who do not die under the bombs are at risk of dying from hunger, thirst and disease,” it said.
The statement added that Palestinians in the West Bank are “being subjected to a disturbing increase in arrests, ill-treatment, extreme movement restrictions, state and settler violence and displacement in what was already, prior to 7 October, the deadliest year on record.”
Russia Suggests International Monitoring In Gaza
Also on Sunday, Moscow stated that an international monitoring mission should go to Gaza to monitor the humanitarian situation.
President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia is ready to give all possible assistance to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s civilians and help de-escalate the conflict.
The Kremlin said in a statement, “Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the principle position of rejecting and condemning terrorism in all its forms,”
It added, “At the same time, it is extremely important that countering terrorist threats does not lead to such grave consequences for the civilian population.”
Russia supported the UN Security Council resolution for a Gaza ceasefire that was vetoed by the United States on Friday.
Meanwhile, in a phone conversation with President Putin, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about his “displeasure” with Moscow’s positions against Israel expressed at the UN and other forums.
“The Prime Minister emphasised that any country that would suffer a criminal terrorist attack such as Israel experienced would act with no less force than the one in which Israel operates,” read a statement from the PM’s office.
The statement added that Netanyahu also “strongly criticized the dangerous cooperation between Russia and Iran.”
On the other hand, Netanyahu thanked U.S President, Joe Biden for providing Israel with “important ammunition” for the continuation of the war in Gaza.
At the beginning of a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, he thanked Biden for the military aid and the US veto of the UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire.
Israel’s military is bolstered by more than $3.8bn of military aid a year from the US, thanks to a record $38bn deal over 10 years signed under former U.S President Barack Obama in 2016.
Of the $3.8bn provided this year, $0.5bn has been for Israel’s missile defences.
