UNRWA says suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza through Kerem Shalom crossing point

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported the suspension of humanitarian aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint on the Palestinian-Israeli border. This was announced by the Commissioner General of the organization, Philippe Lazzarini, in the social network X (former Twitter) on December 1.

The road from "Kerem Shalom" has been posing a security threat to the organization's employees for several months: On November 16, a large convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid was hijacked by armed gangs. At least one similar episode is known to have occurred.

"This difficult decision comes at a time when hunger is rapidly intensifying. Delivering humanitarian aid should never be dangerous or turn into an ordeal," Lazzarini said.

The UNRWA Commissioner General emphasized that the responsibility to protect humanitarian workers and supplies lies with Israel. According to Lazzarini, the state authorities should ensure the safe delivery of aid to Gaza.

Earlier, on November 28, advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Dmitry Gendelman told Izvestia that Israel has not changed its position on Hamas after the truce in Lebanon.

The day before, a special Russian Emergencies Ministry board delivered the 32nd batch of humanitarian aid for the population of the Gaza Strip. A total of 827 tons of humanitarian aid has been delivered since the beginning of the humanitarian mission, the agency noted.

Earlier, on October 16, a special board of the Russian Emergencies Ministry delivered the 31st batch of humanitarian aid for the residents of the Gaza Strip.

On October 14, the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrel said that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is currently so terrible that the humanitarian law there was "buried under the ruins". According to the diplomat, the amount of aid arriving in the region is minimal since the beginning of the war. At the same time, the needs of the residents are growing. Complicating the situation is the fact that 400 thousand Gazans have nowhere to evacuate.

Prior to that, on October 10, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that the US representatives continue to block Russia's decisions on the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Gaza, which they are trying to adopt in the UN Security Council. The diplomat emphasized that the Israeli authorities and American partners "pour gasoline on the flames of the most destructive escalation in the Middle East," as well as continue to violate international rights.

The situation in the Middle East escalated on the morning of October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian radical movement Hamas subjected the territory of Israel to massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.