Israel has kept its blockade on Gaza, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages, according to Israeli officials. This ongoing move has drawn sharp criticism from the United Nations and global humanitarian leaders. Tom Fletcher, the UN’s emergency relief chief, demanded that Israel let aid enter Gaza without delay. The blockade has left thousands of aid trucks stuck at the border, while the people inside Gaza face growing hunger, lack of medicine, and worsening health conditions.
UN Urges Israel to Let Aid In
Tom Fletcher, head of the UN’s relief operations, condemned Israel’s blockade. He said the act of blocking life-saving aid from reaching civilians breaks international law.
“Aid must never become a tool of war. Blocking food and medicine kills,” Fletcher said in a strong statement on Wednesday.
He also noted that while Hamas should release the hostages, this does not justify denying civilians access to help.
Fletcher rejected a new Israeli plan to control aid distribution. He called the proposal unfit and said that humanitarian work must stay neutral, helping all civilians, no matter their side in the conflict.
Chaos in Gaza as Supplies Run Out
On Wednesday night, thousands of desperate Palestinians stormed a humanitarian office in Gaza. They were looking for food and medical supplies. Though some vehicles were damaged, aid workers were not harmed.
Gaza has seen no aid deliveries since March, when Israel ended a temporary ceasefire. This has worsened the situation for over two million people living in the area.
The United Kingdom also spoke out. Britain’s Foreign Office posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “The healthcare system in Gaza is collapsing.” They urged Israel to allow aid and to protect medical workers.
Over 3,000 Aid Trucks Stuck at the Border
The UN confirmed that more than 3,000 trucks filled with food, medicine, and fuel are waiting outside Gaza. Israeli restrictions have kept them from entering.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees, warned that over one million children are at risk due to the blockade.
“660,000 children are out of school. Many face hunger, trauma, and no access to health services,” UNRWA said in a statement.
Food kitchens have shut down. Hospitals are closing. Power cuts have made it almost impossible to run medical centers. Thousands of children are now suffering from severe malnutrition.
Health System on the Brink of Collapse
Reports from UNRWA and other groups show a sharp rise in health problems. Many mothers are malnourished. Newborns are underweight. Clinics run without power or supplies.
“We have run out of medicine. Doctors work by flashlight. People die from treatable conditions,” one aid worker told New York Mirror (newyorkmirror.us).
Fuel shortages mean ambulances can’t run. Medical workers lack the basic tools to help the wounded or sick. The Gaza Strip’s healthcare system is on the edge of total failure.
War Enters 19th Month with No End in Sight
The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack in southern Israel. About 1,200 people were killed, and 251 hostages were taken.
Israel launched a massive military campaign in response. Since then, Gaza’s health ministry says more than 52,400 people have been killed, most of them women and children.
Though Hamas still holds 59 hostages—24 believed to be alive—Israel shows no signs of stopping the war. The Israeli military reported 850 soldiers have died since the war began.
Airstrikes and ground attacks continue daily across Gaza. The death toll keeps rising.
International Pressure Mounts
Countries and groups around the world have called on Israel to allow aid deliveries. The UN, UK, and aid groups like Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross say the situation in Gaza is a full-blown humanitarian disaster.
Efforts to broker a new ceasefire have so far failed. Talks hosted by Egypt and Qatar have not led to results. Meanwhile, Gaza’s people suffer as basic needs go unmet.
Fletcher stressed that humanitarian laws must apply even in war. “Protecting civilians is not optional,” he said. “It is a duty.”
As international leaders continue to press for a solution, the crisis grows. Aid groups say they are ready to help, but they need access. Israel has not yet agreed to reopen crossings or let trucks in.
The world watches as Gaza sinks deeper into disaster. Children go hungry. Hospitals fall silent. Lives hang in the balance.
The situation is urgent. Without action, more deaths will follow—not from bombs, but from hunger, sickness, and neglect.