The United Nations has said it will not take part in a US-backed humanitarian operation in Gaza due to its lack of neutrality.
This came as Israel pledged to facilitate the effort without being involved in aid deliveries.
Deputy UN Spokesperson, Farhan Haq asserted that this particular distribution plan does not accord “with our basic principles, including those of impartiality, neutrality, independence, and we will not be participating in this.”
The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation will start work in Gaza by the end of May under a heavily criticised aid plan that the UN aid chief Tom Fletcher described as a “fig leaf for further violence and displacement” of Palestinians in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters in Antalya, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio acknowledged the criticisms and said that Washington was open to any alternative plan to get aid to civilians “without Hamas being able to steal it.”
Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies, and has blocked the delivery of all humanitarian assistance to Gaza since March 2, demanding Hamas release all remaining captives.
“We’re not immune or in any way insensitive to the suffering of the people of Gaza, and I know that there’s opportunities here to provide aid for them.”
Marco Rubio
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the UN “has a solid and principled operational plan to deliver humanitarian aid and life-saving services at scale and immediately across the Gaza Strip.”
A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative released early this week said that the Gaza Strip “is still confronted with a critical risk of famine” after more than a year and a half of devastating war, with the vast majority of its approximately 2.1 million people at severe risk.
During US President, Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani urged the leader of the United States to use his influence to help secure a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Our teams are engaged in intensive diplomacy to secure a ceasefire in Gaza to protect all civilians, especially innocent women and children, and ensure the release of all hostages.
“This conflict is the key to wider stability in the region. From the West Bank to Yemen to Lebanon, and time is short.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
He asserted that Trump’s involvement could catalyse a breakthrough where others have stalled but only “if done in concert with serious partners.”
“The United States brings power, leverage, and global weight. If we act together, we have a real shot at ending the bloodshed and restoring regional confidence.”
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Meanwhile, the US President said that he wants to “take” the Gaza Strip and turn it into a “freedom zone” – one of few public comments Trump has made about the Palestinian territory, which Israel has continued to bombard during his Middle East visit.
Gaza Lacks Required Urgency
Sultan Barakat, a Professor of Public Policy at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, said that efforts to end Israel’s war on Gaza appear to be taking a backseat to other priorities on the US President’s visit to the region.
Barakat said that he believes that Trump’s decision to lift sanctions on Syria was used to cover up “the failure to have a serious decision on Gaza.”
He told a news agency that Gaza hasn’t been broached “with the urgency it requires”, particularly as the UN’s top humanitarian official warned this week that Israel’s blockade was starving Palestinians.
“One would have expected [Gulf leaders] to say more. Maybe, privately, they said more to Trump. I personally would have liked them to start every meeting with a moment of silence for the victims of Gaza.”
Sultan Barakat
Israel’s war on Gaza continues to escalate, with the enclave suffering unprecedented levels of destruction and civilian casualties.
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