The United Nations’ top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, has accused Israel of subjecting the people of Gaza to forced starvation a move he classified as a war crime. In an interview with the BBC, Fletcher said, “We’re seeing food set on borders and not being allowed in when there is a population on the other side of the border that is starving.”
The remarks come amid growing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Fletcher, who serves as the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stated that Israeli policy is preventing essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine from reaching civilians, despite aid being available and waiting at border crossings.
The blockade, which lasted nearly three months, has been only partially lifted, allowing limited aid to enter. However, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with chaos erupting at aid distribution centres. The UN, which does not cooperate with the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), reported 47 injuries earlier this week when crowds overwhelmed a centre.
Fletcher also condemned inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli leaders, particularly Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s suggestion that Gazans should lose hope and seek new lives elsewhere. Fletcher urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disavow such statements, warning that they could signal a policy of forced displacement.
While Fletcher faced criticism over a previous statement that 14,000 babies could die within 48 hours without aid a claim later walked back by the UN he emphasized the urgency of the crisis and acknowledged the need for precise language. He also called for international legal accountability, stating, “These are issues for the courts to take judgement on, and ultimately for history to take a judgement on.”
The humanitarian chief concluded by urging the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas and called for negotiations to resolve the crisis. “I don’t know now what the aim of this war is anymore,” he said. “It has clearly gone beyond just the hostage releases.”
His comments underscore growing global concern, as international leaders call for an immediate end to hostilities and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
