Our Next Century Foundation Research Officer Komal Mor delivers an oral intervention to the United Nations Human Rights Council 56th session through an online platform. She addresses the United Nations in the context of dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Transcript:

Mr President,

The city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip, once considered a last refuge for many Palestinians, is now in a dire humanitarian situation, as is much of Gaza. Amid the stalled negotiations, the state of Israel is obliged under international law to allow the provision of food and medical care to the population and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations delivering aid. The Gaza Strip is sealed off from the rest of the region. Shipments of crucial aid supplies to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing have been halted, despite the UN warning of a looming famine. Aid deliveries to Gaza have decreased by 67% since the closure of the Rafah crossing on May 7. Israel claims that life saving aid relief and fuel from Egypt has crossed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, however it is not safe for aid recipients to collect them amid ongoing hostilities, unexploded weapons, fuel shortages and delays at checkpoints. The Next Century Foundation stresses the importance of facilitating the safe passage of aid workers and the distribution of aid within Gaza. Additionally, we call for the opening of the Rafah border crossing to allow for the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian supplies and to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza. Thank you.