The United Nations has described Gaza as ‘the hungriest place on Earth’, warning that the entire population of the Palestinian territory is at risk of famine. Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, stated that the territory is the only area where 100 per cent of the population faces such a threat.
Laerke detailed significant obstacles to delivering humanitarian aid, noting that the mission is ‘one of the most obstructed aid operations in recent history’. He said that while Israel authorised 900 trucks of aid to enter the strip, only 600 had been off-loaded on the Gaza side, with a smaller number distributed due to security concerns. Trucks were often ‘swarmed by desperate people’, he added.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Daniel Meron, rejected the claims, accusing UN agencies of cherry-picking facts and demonising Israel. He wrote on X: ‘UN feeds Hamas, we make sure aid gets to those in need.’
Meanwhile, a UN spokesperson reported that ‘armed individuals’ had raided a warehouse at a field hospital in Deir al-Balah, looting medical supplies and nutritional supplements intended for malnourished children.
In parallel, Hamas said it was reviewing Israel’s response to a US ceasefire proposal, though a Hamas official described the plan as biased towards Israel. Deep differences persist, with Israel demanding Hamas disarm and release all hostages, while Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war.
