UN Aid Chief: Gaza Killings Due to “Deliberate Choices,” Not Isolated Incidents

The “horrifying scenes” of Gazans being killed while seeking food aid are not isolated incidents but rather the result of “deliberate choices that have systematically deprived” them of essentials, asserted UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher on Wednesday. His powerful statement demands a shift in policy and highlights the urgent need for accountability in the Gaza Strip.
The dire situation is further underscored by the temporary closure of aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group. This decision follows a string of deadly incidents, including a Tuesday attack that killed 27 people in southern Gaza near a GHF aid site. The Israeli army has also warned that roads to these centers are “considered combat zones.”
Fletcher highlighted the immense pressure on emergency medical teams treating hundreds of trauma cases, with dozens declared dead after Israeli forces reportedly opened fire. He stressed that these repeated tragedies are systemic and call for immediate, independent investigations.
The UN and major aid groups have expressed reservations about cooperating with the GHF, fearing its alignment with Israeli military objectives. Fletcher reiterated the UN’s capacity and readiness to deliver aid, urging for the opening of all crossings, the lifting of restrictions on aid volume and type, and the implementation of a ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.