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On the situation in the Palestinian enclave: “As feared, it has been a tragedy beyond words”
May 24. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The head of Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths, has called for the release of the hostages held in Gaza by Palestinian militias and a ceasefire between the parties following the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which requires Israel immediately halts its offensive on the city of Rafah.
“Although Israel has dismissed calls from the international community to alleviate (the situation in) Rafah, the global clamor for an immediate end to this offensive has become too loud to ignore,” he said in a statement.
Griffiths has assured that “this is a moment of clarity” after the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution this Friday that calls for the protection of humanitarian workers and also due to the decision of the ICJ.
“It is time to demand respect for the rules of war to which we are all bound: civilians must be allowed to seek protection. Humanitarian aid must be provided without obstacles. Humanitarian workers and United Nations staff must be able to do their work safely,” he added.
In this sense, he has insisted that it is necessary to “pay attention” to the calls made during the last seven months, especially “at a time when the people of Gaza face famine, when hospitals are attacked and invaded” or when “humanitarian organizations cannot reach the people” who need it so much.
Griffiths has assured that there have been no limits “to the suffering and misery that Israel’s military operation in Rafah has brought to the people of Gaza.” “As feared, it has been a tragedy beyond words,” she said.
Likewise, he recalled that the city’s land incursion has forcibly displaced more than 800,000 people “who fled once again fearing for their lives and arrived in areas without adequate shelter, latrines or drinking water.”
“It has cut off the flow of aid to southern Gaza and paralyzed a humanitarian operation that had already stretched beyond its limit. It has halted food distributions in the south and reduced to a minimum the supply of fuel for the vital needs of Gaza in bakeries, hospitals and water wells,” he stressed.
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