The UN human rights office (OHCHR) in the OccupiedPalestinian Territory on Wednesday called on the Israeli military to ceasethe use of lethal force near aid convoys and food distribution sites.
It cited “repeated incidents” of Palestinians being shot orshelled while seeking food, warning that such attacks could constitute warcrimes under international law.
“We are horrified at the repeated incidents, continuouslyreported in recent days across Gaza, and we call for an immediate end tothese senseless killings,” the office said in a statement.
Hundreds killed
Since 27 May, when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF),an initiative backed by Israel and the United States began food distribution insouthern Gaza – bypassing the established UN-led system – hundreds have beenkilled and many more wounded near four distribution points or while waiting topick up aid.
In one of the deadliest recent incidents, Israeli militaryreportedly shelled a crowd waiting for UN food trucks in southern Gaza on 17June, killing at least 51 people and injuring some 200 others, according toGazan health authorities.
A day earlier, three Palestinians were reportedly killed andseveral injured in a similar incident in western Beit Lahiya.
“There is no information to suggest that the people killedor injured were involved in hostilities or posed any threat to the Israelimilitary or to staff of GHF distribution points,” OHCHR said.
Protect civilians, aid workers
The UN World Food Programme (WFP), which has managed todispatch only 9,000 metric tons of food within Gaza over the past month – afraction of what is required for the 2.1 million people in need – echoed callsfor immediate protection of civilians and aid workers.
“Far too many people have died while trying to access thetrickle of food aid coming in,” the agency said in a separate statement.
“Any violence resulting in starving people being killed orinjured while seeking life-saving assistance is completely unacceptable.”
Massive scale-up needed
The UN emergency food relief agency said the fear ofstarvation and desperate need for food is causing large crowds to gather alongwell-known transport routes, hoping to intercept and access humanitariansupplies while in transit.
“Only a massive scale-up in food distributions canstabilize the situation, calm anxieties and rebuild the trust withincommunities that more food is coming,” it said, calling urgently for saferconvoy routes, faster permissions, restored communication channels andadditional border openings.
“The time to act is now. Delays cost lives. We must beallowed to safely do our jobs,” the agency said.
