The UN Condemns the Use of Food as a Weapon in Gaza

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights labeled the use of food as a weapon in Gaza a "war crime" on Tuesday, urging the Israeli army to "stop shooting at people trying to obtain food."

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), denounced the current distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which is managed by an organization supported by Israel and the United States, resulting in chaotic scenes. He described it as "an abomination" during a press conference in Berlin.

The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began distributing food in Gaza on May 26 after Israel completely halted supplies to the Palestinian territory for over two months, prompting warnings of a massive famine.

"Using food for military purposes against civilians not only restricts or prevents their access to vital services but also constitutes a war crime," stated Thameen Al-Kheetan, a spokesperson for the High Commissioner, during a press briefing in Geneva, emphasizing that it is not for the UN to determine who is "guilty."

"Desperate and hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of starving to death or risking being killed while trying to obtain food," he said.

The UN and humanitarian NGOs refuse to work with the GHF, an organization with opaque funding, due to concerns about its processes and neutrality.

On Monday, several human rights organizations called on the GHF to cease its operations, warning of potential complicity in "war crimes."

Since beginning its operations, GHF claims to have distributed nearly 40 million meals, but the UN and NGOs argue that these amounts are grossly insufficient given the needs.

"Deadly Trap"

"The so-called newly created aid mechanism is an abomination that humiliates and degrades desperate people. It's a deadly trap, costing more lives than it saves," Mr. Lazzarini said Tuesday in Berlin.

On the ground, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is nicknamed "the humiliating foundation of Gaza" because that's how Gazans "feel at the moment," he added.

Mr. Kheetan warned of "chaotic scenes around the GHF's food distribution points."

Since the organization began functioning, "the Israeli army has bombed and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, resulting in many fatalities," he stated.

He indicated that "over 410 Palestinians are believed to have been killed as a result (...) by the Israeli army," while "at least 93 others may also have been killed by the Israeli army while trying to approach the few UN aid convoys and other humanitarian organizations."

The UN is verifying these figures, which come from Palestinian health authorities and other sources, including NGOs, he told AFP, asserting that it is possible in both cases that more people were killed by others.

"At least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in these incidents," he added during the briefing.

"The Israeli army must stop shooting at people trying to obtain food," Mr. Kheetan insisted, also calling on Israel to "allow the entry of food and other forms of humanitarian aid necessary for the survival of Palestinians in Gaza."

"Illegal restrictions on the work of the UN and other humanitarian actors must be lifted immediately," he added.

The spokesperson also called on the international community to "take concrete action to ensure that Israel - the occupying power in Gaza - fulfills its obligation to ensure that the population receives sufficient food and essential goods."

"Humanitarian principles must be restored. The humanitarian community, including UNRWA, has the expertise and must be allowed to do its work," Philippe Lazzarini demanded in Berlin.

© Agence France-Presse