Flour and vegetable prices have soared more than 100-fold in the Gaza Strip as Israel continues to block humanitarian aid into the enclave, United Nations officials reported on Monday.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stated that vital crossings, including Kerem Shalom, Erez, and Zikim, have been closed to cargo. “This means that vital humanitarian assistance, including thousands of tents, remains undelivered,” OCHA noted. Humanitarian partners are currently assessing available stocks within Gaza to address the urgent needs.
Israel has halted humanitarian aid to Gaza since early Sunday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated that the measure aims to pressure Hamas into accepting a new proposal to extend the ceasefire and facilitate hostage releases, a proposal he mentioned was presented by the United States.
Tom Fletcher, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, expressed deep concern on social media, stating, “Israel’s decision to halt aid to Gaza is indeed alarming. International humanitarian law is clear: we must be allowed access to deliver vital lifesaving aid. We need to get aid in and the hostages out.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to prevent a return to hostilities in Gaza. Through his spokesperson, he called for humanitarian aid to be allowed back into Gaza immediately and for the release of all hostages.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also warned that the stoppage of aid deliveries will quickly lead to devastating consequences for children and families struggling to survive.
