UN: Israel rejects majority of Gaza aid

The United Nations has reported that Israel has rejected 107 requests to deliver humanitarian aid materials into the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire came into effect on 10 October, preventing essential relief from reaching civilians.

UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the rejected requests included blankets, winter clothing, and equipment to maintain water, sanitation, and hygiene services.

“Almost 90% of these requests came from more than 330 local and international NGOs,” Haq said during a press briefing.

“Over half were denied on the grounds that the organisations were not authorised to bring relief items into Gaza,” he added.

He noted that the UN and its partners could do more if current restrictions were lifted, adding that some materials were rejected because Israeli authorities did not consider them to fall within the scope of humanitarian aid.

Other items, he said, were classified as ‘dual-use’, meaning they could potentially serve both civilian and military purposes. These include vehicles, spare parts, solar panels, mobile latrines, X-ray machines, and generators.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), daily demolitions of residential buildings continue in several areas where Israeli forces remain deployed, particularly in eastern Khan Younis, eastern Gaza City, and Rafah.

Haq also reported that Israeli strikes near the so-called “yellow line” have resulted in civilian casualties, warning that such military activity places both civilians and aid workers at risk.

He reminded the Israeli military of its obligation to take constant care to protect civilians during its operations.

The “yellow line” refers to the initial withdrawal line established under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. It separates Israeli-controlled areas in the east from Palestinian-administered areas in the west.

On population movements across the Strip, Haq said that since the ceasefire began, more than 680,000 movements from southern to northern Gaza have been recorded, along with about 113,000 from western to eastern Khan Younis.

However, he added, many displaced people have chosen to remain where they are due to widespread destruction, a lack of alternatives, and ongoing uncertainty about safety and access to services in their home areas.

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