{"id":54602,"date":"2025-03-18T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/intolerable-suffering-in-gaza-amid-deadly-airstrikes-continued-aid-blockade\/"},"modified":"2025-03-18T20:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:00:00","slug":"intolerable-suffering-in-gaza-amid-deadly-airstrikes-continued-aid-blockade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=54602","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Intolerable\u2019 suffering in Gaza amid deadly airstrikes, continued aid blockade"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cWe will not give up on these objectives<\/strong>,\u201d Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said during a press encounter at the UN Office in Geneva.<\/p>\n
Airstrikes resume, aid blocked<\/h2>\n
In a statement issued earlier in the day, UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said Mr. Guterres was \u201cshocked\u201d by the Israeli strikes, which reportedly killed hundreds overnight.<\/p>\n
He issued a strong appeal for both sides to uphold the ceasefire and allow humanitarian assistance to resume.<\/p>\n
Worst fears materialised<\/h2>\n
Briefing the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher confirmed that Israeli forces had resumed widespread airstrikes, accompanied by new evacuation orders.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur worst fears materialised,\u201d he said, describing the renewed hostilities as a devastating setback to recent humanitarian efforts \u2013 marking the return to \u201cabject fear\u201d in Gaza.<\/p>\n
Mr. Fletcher reported that since 2 March, Israeli authorities had cut off all lifesaving supplies \u2013 food, medicine, fuel and cooking gas \u2013 into the Gaza Strip.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood is rotting and medicines are expiring<\/strong>,\u201d he warned, adding \u201cour repeated requests to collect aid sitting at Kerem Shalom crossing have been systematically rejected<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ceasefire gains reversed<\/h2>\n
Mr. Fletcher further warned that that modest humanitarian gains made during the 42-day ceasefire had been wiped out.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring that period, over 4,000 trucks of aid per week entered Gaza. We reached two million people,\u201d he said, noting also that 600,000 received polio vaccinations and maternity care for 5,000 births.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suspension of aid and commercial materials is reversing that progress that we achieved during that brief period. Essential survival resources needed are now being rationed<\/strong>,\u201d he added.<\/p>\nUnder-Secretary-General Fletcher briefs the Security Council.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Concerns grow over West Bank<\/h2>\n
The UN relief chief also highlighted worsening conditions in the West Bank, where 95 Palestinians, including 17 children, have been killed this year.<\/p>\n
Israeli military operations have intensified, deploying tanks for the first time in two decades. Around 40,000 Palestinians have been displaced and settlers have launched large-scale attacks on villages.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also have grave concerns about the protection of civilians in the West Bank. The situation there is an urgent crisis that must be addressed with the necessary international attention<\/strong>,\u201d Mr. Fletcher said.<\/p>\n
Call \u00a0for urgent action<\/h2>\n
Mr. Fletcher concluded with a call for ambassadors to take three immediate steps: open Gaza\u2019s border crossings to aid, renew the ceasefire and secure more funding for humanitarian operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe suffering of the people of the region must end. A renewed ceasefire is the best way of protecting civilians \u2013 in Gaza, in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and in Israel \u2013 releasing hostages and detainees and allowing aid and commercial supplies in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n