LIVE: ‘Dehumanising’ aid chaos grows in Gaza as Israeli attacks kill 70
As we’ve been reporting, the UN and other top humanitarian groups have slammed the US- and Israeli-backed aid distribution plan for Gaza, saying it does not meet humanitarian standards and falls far short of meeting local needs.
So what exactly are Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law when it comes to providing food to Palestinians in Gaza?
The Fourth Geneva Convention, which lays out rules for the protection of civilians during armed conflict, states that an occupying power “has the duty of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population”.
“It should, in particular, bring in the necessary foodstuffs, medical stores and other articles if the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate,” it says.
Occupying powers also have an obligation “to the fullest extent” possible to maintain medical and hospital establishments. They must also facilitate “relief schemes” if the occupied population does not have access to adequate supplies.
The UN and the world’s top human rights groups have said for months that Israel is not only failing to supply adequate food, water, medicine and other needed supplies to people in Gaza, it is impeding deliveries of humanitarian assistance.