UN Calls for Humanitarian Independence Amid Gaza Aid Crisis

The United Nations has emphasized that humanitarian aid operations in Gaza must remain independent and adhere to core principles of humanity, neutrality, and impartiality amid reports that Israel and the US may oversee aid distribution. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted the worsening crisis in Gaza, with food shortages and rising malnutrition, and called on member states to ensure unobstructed aid delivery. Concurrently, the UN has appointed British diplomat Ian Martin to conduct a strategic review of UNRWA, the agency responsible for assisting Palestinian refugees, to assess how it can best operate under current political, financial, and security constraints. This review follows Israel's severing of ties with UNRWA and allegations against some of its staff, though the agency continues to provide essential services in Gaza and beyond. The assessment aims to identify ways for UNRWA to improve its effectiveness without altering its mandate, which has guided its support for millions of Palestinian refugees since 1949. The situation is further complicated by ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid crossings and cuts to international funding, intensifying the challenges faced by both aid workers and recipients.