UN Condemns Gaza Aid Stampede Amid Distribution Obstacles

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric described the scenes of thousands of Palestinians in southern Gaza rushing a US-backed aid group's distribution site as "heartbreaking," emphasizing the need for an "operationally sound plan" to deliver humanitarian assistance. Despite Israel allowing some UN aid deliveries, obstacles remain, and the UN stresses that a meaningful scale-up of humanitarian operations is essential to prevent famine and meet civilian needs across Gaza. The US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's recent aid distribution has raised concerns, with UN agencies unaware if aid was actually delivered and refusing to cooperate with the group amid accusations of collaboration with Israel without Palestinian involvement. The ongoing Israeli blockade, lifted after 11 weeks, has caused severe food and medical shortages, complicating aid operations. UN officials continue to advocate for coordinated and principled aid efforts supported by member states to ensure aid reaches the desperate population effectively. These developments highlight the critical challenges in humanitarian access and distribution in the conflict-affected region.