Israel blocks food from entering Gaza for 37 days as UN decries 'utter disregard for human life'
Top Israeli officials have vowed that 'not even a grain of wheat' will enter Gaza as famine continues to take hold across the strip
Israel prevented the entry of food into Gaza for the 37th consecutive day on 7 March, as the heads of six UN agencies called for an urgent renewal of the ceasefire in Gaza, warning of aid shortages and hunger since Israel resumed its genocide of Palestinians last month.
"More than 2.1 million people are trapped, bombed, and starved again, while, at crossing points, food, medicine, fuel, and shelter supplies are piling up," said a statement co-signed by the heads of six UN agencies, including the UN’s aid coordination agency (OCHA) and the World Food Programme.
"We are witnessing acts of war in Gaza that show an utter disregard for human life … We appeal to world leaders to act – firmly, urgently and decisively – to ensure the basic principles of international humanitarian law are upheld," the statement read.
Israel completely halted the delivery of all humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on 2 March, linking the resumption of aid to Hamas's acceptance of a US proposal for extending the first phase of a ceasefire reached in January.
Hamas insisted that the ceasefire move to the second phase, as agreed to by Israel when it was first signed, in an effort to end the war permanently.
On 18 March, Israel unilaterally resumed the war, killing nearly 1,400 Palestinians, including more than 300 children, in under three weeks.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed on Monday that no humanitarian aid will be allowed to enter Gaza, following reports in Israeli media that the military was planning to ease the blockade.
Smotrich stated, “Not even a grain of wheat will enter the strip,” while speaking at Yedioth Ahronoth's People of Israel Conference.
The UN agencies also warned of the enclave's critical food and medical shortages. Twenty-five bakeries supported by the World Food Programme during the ceasefire had to close due to flour and cooking gas shortages, it said.
On Sunday, UNICEF spokesperson Kazem Abu Khalaf announced the closure of approximately 21 malnutrition treatment centers in Gaza due to Israeli military operations and the issuance of evacuation orders.
In a press statement, Abu Khalaf explained that UNICEF is awaiting a report from the special body tasked with assessing food security in Gaza to present the findings.
He stated Israel continues to impose a blockade on Gaza, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, nutritional supplements, and other essential materials.
Israel has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians since the start of the war on 7 October 2023. Thousands more are believed dead, buried under the rubble.