UN Official Gaza Facing Forced Starvation, Possible War Crimes

Israel's withholding aid, coupled with constant armed intervention has made the situation harder. He said that while some aid was now being let through, food and essentials were still being held back at the border while people went hungry in Gaza. He called on Israeli officials to denounce remarks by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who said Gaza’s residents should find new places to live permanently.

Global responses and humanitarian considerations
The latest relaxation of Israel’s nearly three-month blockade followed appeals to allow in aid, though the distributions have been disorderly. At one aid center, 47 individuals were said to have been injured in a crowd-related incident. The UN has refused to work with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation - supported by the US and Israel.

Fletcher condemned statements of Israeli officials that appear to recommend employing pressure on the civilian population as a tactic. He called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also to reject any narrative that might justify forced displacement and to respect international humanitarian law.

World leaders have sounded increasing alarm. Israel’s military operations are going beyond what is proportionate to stop Hamas, the EU’s foreign policy chief has said. Heads of government from countries such as the UK, France, and Canada have demanded an end to military operations and the opening of aid routes. Netanyahu for his part never stopped blaming those countries for backing Hamas.

Genocide Warnings and Accountability
On 14 May, Fletcher called on the UN Security Council to act to prevent genocide in Gaza based on reports of starvation, enforced banditry, and high casualties. He cited past failures in Rwanda, Srebrenica, and Sri Lanka, calling for immediate action by the world.

Previously, Fletcher had incurred controversy after he claimed that 14,000 babies would die in 48 hours in the event aid did not come – something he retracted and said he realized he likewise had a requirement for accurate reporting. Still, he said his mission is to argue for life-saving humanitarian access.

He also rejected claims that Hamas was proceeding to intercept aid, noting that the humanitarian institutions are working “impartially,” and with the aim of delivering the supplies to the civilian population.

According to Fletcher, political solutions, not military occupation, would be the key to ending the crisis. He also repeated his demand that Hamas free all captives. It has also been reported that there are 58 hostages still in Gaza, and 20 of them may be still alive.

Background context of a longstanding conflict
The Gaza military operation commenced after the October 7, 2023, attack across the border by Hamas that left around 1,200 dead and 251 hostages.
At least 54,249 people have died in Gaza since then, including 3,986 since the most recent Israeli strikes began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas.

Tom Fletcher, who is also seeking to find ways to tackle crises in Ukraine, Sudan and Syria, said the world was in a deep state of danger. He cautioned that the UN Security Council’s divisions are making it increasingly difficult to solve conflicts and to protect civilians.