UN accuses Israel of weaponizing aid despite truce

The United Nations and international humanitarian organizations have accused Israel of politicizing and weaponizing critical aid deliveries to Gaza, despite an ongoing ceasefire. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated on social media platform X that its international staff and humanitarian supplies continue to be barred from entering Gaza. Caroline Willemen, Gaza project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, highlighted that while Israeli attacks have decreased since the truce, sporadic strikes persist, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Willemen emphasized that aid should not be subject to political conditions, noting that Gaza’s residents have endured the threat of mass extermination for years. Oxfam International further alleged that Israeli authorities have arbitrarily blocked shipments of essential aid and imposed restrictive registration processes on NGOs, delaying urgent relief efforts. On Thursday, Oxfam and 40 other organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, urged Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement and international law, ensuring unimpeded aid flow. This appeal followed the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion, which called on Israel to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery to Gaza. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to Israel, declared that UNRWA would not be permitted to assist in Gaza, labeling it a subsidiary of Hamas, which he referred to as a terror group. Concurrently, an Egyptian convoy entered Gaza to expedite the search for deceased Israeli hostages, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approving the mission.