The key facts
- Tom Fletcher called it unacceptable to wait for an Israeli government to be formed before delivering winter aid
- The Board of Peace urged Israel to admit materials for temporary shelters, water and sanitation after the floods
- Netanyahu's office said it was committed to Trump's plan and blamed Hamas for the delays
UN: waiting for an Israeli government is no excuse for delaying aid
The head of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, criticized delays in delivering winter essentials to Gaza. In his words, waiting for a new Israeli government to be formed after the elections is not an acceptable pretext for suspending aid. 'Foreign ministers and partners have assured me of their support, but have also repeatedly said that progress would be difficult until the Israeli elections,' Fletcher said. 'Now we are being told to wait for a government to be formed.' He added that 'if anyone has doubts about international humanitarian law, that is not an acceptable excuse,' as the international community and the Board of Peace have made clear.
Floods and the Board of Peace's appeal
The Board of Peace, which oversees US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, on Monday called on Israel to admit the necessary aid after heavy rains caused large-scale flooding over the weekend. The Board called on the Israeli government to 'allow the entry of essential materials for temporary shelters, water supply and sanitation infrastructure, waste management, drainage and sewage pumping' and to honor its obligations under the Sharm el-Sheikh humanitarian protocol. According to Gaza's media office, 70,000 tents were flooded on Saturday, and tens of thousands of displaced people were affected, with some injured.
Israel's position and aid figures
In response to the Board of Peace's appeal, the Israeli government declared its 'commitment' to Trump's plan and blamed Hamas for the lack of progress. A statement from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would use 'every dual-use item' to strengthen its military capabilities. Humanitarian organizations have long criticized Israel's categorization of 'dual-use items,' which includes flashlights, wheelchairs, tarpaulins, tent poles and toilets. The military agency Cogat said it had cleared thousands of aid trucks, but UN data show a decline in supply volumes since January.
Fourth winter of war
Fletcher noted that the UN had warned for months about the need to bring in winter supplies — durable shelter materials, warm clothing, blankets, bedding and safe heaters. He warned that delays, blockages and funding cuts expose the population to 'great risk,' as harsh weather threatens people without adequate shelter for the fourth consecutive winter since the war began in October 2023. He called for all crossings into Gaza to be opened instead of relying on one, and for humanitarian organizations to be allowed to work and commercial markets to function. According to medical officials, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire agreement took effect in October of last year, and the overall death toll in Gaza since the start of the war has exceeded 74,600. Nine out of ten residents of Gaza — 2.2 million people — have been displaced.
