UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday urged Israel to lift its ban on humanitarian agencies in Gaza, voicing his ‘deep concern’ over the escalating crisis, according to AFP.
Guterres called on Israel to roll back the ban, stressing that international NGOs are indispensable for life‑saving humanitarian work.
His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, warned that the suspension of aid may undermine the fragile progress achieved under the ceasefire.
“This recent action will further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians,” he added.
On Thursday, Israel barred 37 foreign aid groups from entering Gaza due to their refusal to hand over lists of Palestinian staff to government authorities.
Among those barred is Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which has 1,200 staff across the Palestinian territories—most of them based in Gaza.
Israel has instructed the organizations targeted by the ban to stop all operations in Gaza by March 1.
Several aid groups condemned the new requirements, arguing they violate international humanitarian law and undermine their independence.
However, Israel claimed that the new demand seeks to block organizations it accuses of backing terrorism from operating in the Palestinian territories.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza War, Israel has killed more than 70,000 people.
UN figures reveal that approximately 80 percent of Gaza’s buildings lie in ruins or severely damaged during the two-year war that kicked off on October 7, 2023.
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