UN Organization in Gaza Asserts Immediate Cease-Fire Is Critical for Millions of Palestinian Lives

The director of the United Nations entity responsible for Palestinian refugees emphasized during a U.N. emergency session on Monday that an “urgent humanitarian cease-fire is now a matter of life and death for millions.” The director accused Israel of imposing “collective punishment” on Palestinians and driving civilian displacement.

Philippe Lazzarini cautioned that the escalating chaos, evidenced by the recent looting of the organization’s storage facilities by Palestinians in search of food and other necessities, will severely hamper, if not entirely halt, the operations of the UN’s largest agency in Gaza.

The dire state of humanitarian conditions in Gaza was further elaborated upon by Lazzarini, the chief of UNICEF, and a senior U.N. humanitarian official, 23 days following the unexpected attacks by Hamas on Israel on October 7 and the subsequent military responses aimed at neutralizing the militant organization that governs Gaza.

Recent data from Gaza’s Ministry of Health revealed that the conflict has resulted in more than 8,300 fatalities, 66% of whom are women and children, along with tens of thousands of injuries, according to U.N. humanitarian sources.

Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, revealed that the death toll includes 3,400 children and more than 6,300 injuries. “This equates to over 420 children sustaining fatal or non-fatal injuries in Gaza daily — a staggering statistic that should deeply concern us all,” she added.

Philippe Lazzarini stressed, “The death toll surpasses annual child fatalities in global conflict zones since 2019,” emphasizing that such numbers should not be classified as “collateral damage.”

Numerous council members condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel that resulted in over 1,400 deaths, while also urging the release of approximately 230 hostages. However, virtually all speakers pointed out Israel’s international humanitarian obligation to safeguard civilians and critical infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. Israel faced criticism for severing essential supplies like food, water, fuel, and medicine to Gaza.

Lazzarini indicated that the limited aid permitted entry into Gaza through the Rafah crossing from Egypt is grossly inadequate for addressing the needs of the over 2 million individuals trapped in Gaza. “The existing system for channeling aid to Gaza is predisposed to failure,” he said, “unless a political resolution exists to substantially increase the supply provisions, given the unparalleled humanitarian needs.”

The commissioner-general of UNRWA warned that Gaza has become a zone where no location is secure. Basic amenities are dwindling; medicine, food, water, and fuel are in scarce supply, and sewage is overflowing in the streets, posing imminent health risks.

Catherine Russell warned that the scarcity of clean water and proper sanitation is nearing catastrophic levels.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield urged the divided Security Council to unite, underlining the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza. She insisted on the protection of all innocent civilians and emphasized the necessity of adhering to international humanitarian law.

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, urged the Security Council to break its deadlock and demand an end to the violence, which he labeled an affront to humanity and a threat to regional and international peace and security.

Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan criticized the council’s focus on Gaza’s humanitarian needs while ignoring Hamas’ attacks, and stated that he would wear a yellow star as a symbol of resistance and reminder of the need for self-defense.

After the Security Council failed to pass four resolutions—each blocked by different members—Arab nations approached the U.N. General Assembly last Friday, where a resolution calling for humanitarian pauses was adopted by a vote of 120-14, with 45 abstentions. Now, elected members of the Security Council are attempting yet again to draft a resolution that will pass muster. While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they serve as significant indicators of global sentiment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UN Humanitarian Cease-Fire in Gaza

More about UN Humanitarian Cease-Fire in Gaza

• United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)
• UN Security Council
• Gaza Ministry of Health Statistics
• UNICEF’s Role in Humanitarian Aid
• International Humanitarian Law
• U.S. State Department Statements on Gaza
• UN General Assembly Resolutions
• Israeli Diplomatic Missions to the UN
• Palestinian Diplomatic Mission to the UN