UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike that hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza, a site sheltering civilians amid ongoing conflict.
“Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable,” said Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for the UN chief, on Thursday. “People seeking shelter must be respected and protected, not hit by strikes.”
Guterres called on all parties to prioritize the safety of civilians and allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza. “Too many lives have already been lost,” Tremblay added. “There is an urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.”
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours have targeted sites hosting displaced Palestinians, resulting in injuries and fatalities.
Displacement Crisis Worsens
Between July 8 and 15, more than 11,600 people were newly displaced, according to OCHA. This increases the total number of displaced individuals since the breakdown of the ceasefire on March 18 to over 737,000—approximately 35% of Gaza’s population. Since the conflict began 21 months ago, nearly everyone in Gaza has been displaced, many multiple times.
With much of Gaza’s housing destroyed or uninhabitable, many families are forced to sleep in the open. The reinstated ban by Israeli authorities on access to the Mediterranean Sea has further strained daily life, as displaced people hesitate to use the sea—their only option for washing—due to prohibited swimming and fishing.
Critical Shortage of Essential Supplies
Fuel shortages continue to cripple essential services. While limited amounts of diesel have been allowed into Gaza over the past week, OCHA noted that these supplies are insufficient to keep life-saving services operational.
“There was a small but important step forward today: For the first time in more than 135 days, we were finally allowed to bring in some benzene, which powers ambulances and other critical services,” the humanitarian office stated. “That’s in addition to the limited amounts of diesel allowed over the past week.”
OCHA is calling for more fuel, including both benzene and diesel, to enter Gaza regularly, and for the immediate lifting of bans on shelter materials. “Lives depend on both fuel and shelter,” they emphasized.
International Call to Action
The UN’s condemnation of the strike on the church and the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza highlight the urgent need for international intervention. The UN continues to advocate for the protection of civilians and stresses that all parties must comply with international humanitarian law.
