The deputy head of United Nations Humanitarian AffairsMartin Griffiths, said that “he was able to talk to Palestinian families from the Gaza Strip”. Among his statements, he said that “They are in a devastating situation in the face of the bombings launched by Israel”, while the high commissioner of the Refugee Agency (UNHCR)Filippo Grandi, asked the Security Council “stop the death spiral” in the enclave.
UN humanitarian chief came to Israel after the Israeli Government went back on his intention of not giving a visa to UN officials critics of its military operations in Gaza, including Griffiths himself.
Before addressing the current escalation with Israeli and Palestinian authorities, Griffiths said that he had the opportunity to talk on the phone with some of the Gaza families affected by Israel’s attacks. “I have had the sad privilege to speak with several Gaza families by phone. What they have had to endure since October 7 It’s beyond devastating.”he tweeted on his social network account X (formerly Twitter).
Escalation in Gaza grows: Griffiths visits the region
Griffiths’ visit comes days after Israeli authorities said They would deny the delivery of visas to representatives of the United Nationsafter the criticism they received from the organization’s secretary general, Antonio Guterresregarding the offensive in Gaza promoted by the Israeli government.
Guterres also said last week that “horrible” Hamas attacks “they didn’t come out of nowhere”if they do not exist “after almost 60 years of military occupation and illegal “Israel” in the territories that the Palestinians claim to maintain your status.
In that context, the Israeli ambassador to the UNGilad Erdan accused Guterres of justify a massacrealso calling for his resignation and ensuring that Israel “would refuse to grant visas to representatives of the UN”.
Griffiths said his request to the warring parties was “release the hostagesprotect civilians wherever they are, allow fast, safe delivery and in the right quantity of humanitarian aid, as well as respecting international humanitarian law.
War in Gaza: what the other UN authorities are asking for
In New York, Flippo Grandithe owner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)called on the Security Council to establish a “humanitarian ceasefire”.
“A humanitarian ceasefire can at least stop this death spiral and I hope they overcome their divisions and exercise your authority by asking for one. The world waits for you they do”Grandi remarked before the Council, which until now had shown itself incapable of approve one of the four resolutions presented in less than two weeks.
The head of the UNHCR, in statements to Agence France Press (AFP), lamented that “the disregard for the basic rules of war – international humanitarian law – is becoming more and more the norm and not in the exception.”
Grandi referred both to “attacks against Israeli civilians”as well as “the killing of Palestinian civilians and the massive destruction of infrastructure caused by the current Israeli military operation.”
For the official, “we must wait for the ceasefire becomes the first step towards a solution.” of a conflict that, he specified, was “repeatedly and deliberately neglected”.
Source: Ambito
