Guterres repeated his call for Israel to stop the Rafah offensive as aid sources dry up
In a related development, the United Nations high court is preparing to listen to a new request from South Africa to place more restrictions on Israel’s military actions in this land.
In an appeal “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” remains detained in Gaza, Secretary-General speak Arab League leaders at the Summit in Bahrain Nothing justifies “collective punishment” of the Palestinians.
“Any attack on Rafah is unacceptable; it will cause another wave of pain and misery as we need a surge in aid to save lives,” he added.
Besides Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWAMr. Guterres also reaffirmed his strong support for the UN agency. It “still exists the backbone of our operations in Gaza and is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees across the region. It needs to be fully supported and funded,” he stressed, as the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) issues a new warning about famine is imminent in Gaza.
Overcoming barriers
“Food and fuel stocks will be depleted in the next few days.” WFP warns in one social media posts on X. “Since May 6, we have been unable to access and receive aid from Kerem Shalom border gate. The situation is becoming unsustainable.”
The UN agency emphasized the real threat that any escalation of hostilities in Gaza could bring. Aid activities “completely deadlocked” and resulted in a humanitarian disaster.
Although WFP has provided special nutritious food to pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under 5 years old across Gaza, the UN agency said that as of May 11, Distribution has been suspended in Rafah “and is only taking place in Khan Younis and Deir El Balah in limited numbers”. ”.
In northern Gaza, WFP also warned that the rate of acute malnutrition in children under two years old “has doubled from 15% in January to 30% in March.”
Humanitarians warn that acute malnutrition is the most dangerous form of malnutrition, making affected children three to 12 times more likely to die than well-nourished children.
The dire assessment comes as the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported late on Wednesday that 600,000 people – a quarter of Gaza’s population – have now been forced to relocate from Rafah in last week, amid ongoing Israeli military operations and evacuation orders.
Another 100,000 people had to leave the north to comply with Israeli military evacuation orders, while fierce gun battles reportedly broke out.
Large-scale evacuation orders
According to the United Nations aid coordination office, OCHA“285 square kilometers, equivalent to about 78% of the Gaza Strip” is currently under evacuation orders from the Israeli army.
In its latest version updateOCHA reported that bombardment continued “from the air, land and sea… across much of the Gaza Strip, leading to additional civilian casualties, displacement and destruction of homes and other civil infrastructure”.
The United Nations office confirmed reports of ground and incursions Heavy fighting in Jabalia in northern Gaza, as well as in Deir al Balah in central Gaza and east of Rafah in the south.
“As of May 15, the Rafah border crossing remains closed. OCHA noted that the Kerem Shalom border crossing is operational, but current security and logistical conditions are hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid on a large scale.”
Echoing those concerns, WFP emphasized that “multiple access points” for aid are needed “to reverse six months of near-starvation and prevent famine, stabilizing the flow of food supplies every year.” daily and weekly…The threat of famine in Gaza has never been greater.”
South Africa v. Israel
In an effort to prevent military activity in and around the southernmost city in the land, South Africa filed a new petition with the United Nations’ highest court which should have been heard on Thursday.
“Urgent interim measures are necessary to ensure the survival of Palestinians in Gaza,” South Africa’s application said, in its statement. The latest request was filed on May 10.
The International Court of Justice delivers its verdict in the case of South Africa v. Israel in The Hague.
“The situation created by the Israeli attack on Rafah and the extreme risk it poses to humanitarian supplies and basic services in Gaza, to the survival of the Palestinian health system and to the survival of Palestinians in Gaza as a group, is not only to escalate the current situation but also to give rise to new facts that irreparably harm the rights of the Palestinian people in Gaza.”
Rafah the last refuge
Rafah is the “last refuge” for the people of Gaza, the South African petition continues, adding that the city is also “last viable center” for shelter and basic services including medical care. South Africa also asserted that the Israeli military’s seizure of the Rafah border crossing as well as the short-term closure and access problems of the nearby Kerem Shalom border crossing have blocked key entry points for life-saving humanitarian aid arriving. Gaza.
“The population and remaining medical facilities are at high risk, given recent evidence of evacuation zones designated as extermination zones, mass destruction and mass graves at hospitals of Gaza and Israel’s use of Artificial Intelligence (‘AI’) for identification. ‘kill list’,” ICJ court documents show.
The International Court of Justice special order issued earlier to Israel at the end of January – known as “temporary measures” – to prevent harm to the people of Gaza, following accusations by South Africa that Israel had breached its obligations as a party Signed the Genocide Convention. There was no explicit call for an immediate halt to Israel’s full military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Israel strongly denies the allegations and is expected to respond to South Africa’s latest request on Friday.
