UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has conveyed deep concern over the Israeli decision to close key crossings into Gaza and suspend the entry of humanitarian and commercial supplies.
Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq at a news conference reported on Monday that "following missile attacks towards Israel since last night, the Israeli authorities closed the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing today, which has been the only crossing into Gaza that had been operational for cargo over the past two weeks."
"However, humanitarians were allowed to collect cargo from the Palestinian side of the crossing," he said, adding that Israel also closed the Rafah crossing.
Emphasising that "people in Gaza rely on a steady flow of humanitarian and commercial goods from outside," Haq said: "The UN and our humanitarian partners work hard to maintain a sustained and predictable flow of supplies despite restrictions."
"Such efforts cannot be sustained if crossings remain closed," he added.
Haq further conveyed Guterres' deep concern "by the decision to close the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings and suspend the entry of supplies into Gaza."
Gaza aid push
"He calls for the immediate resumption of humanitarian movements at scale into and throughout Gaza and urges all parties to facilitate the rapid, safe, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law," Haq told reporters.
He also said that Guterres "underscores that humanitarian assistance is indispensable for the survival and well-being of civilians in Gaza."
"Humanitarian needs remain immense, and access must remain predictable, sustained, and unimpeded," he said.
When asked for further information about the Israeli closures, Haq said: "As of right now, none of the crossing points are open."
"The aid distribution is happening within Gaza, but nothing is coming in from outside," he said.
Noting that the UN does not support the Israeli decision to close crossing points to the Palestinian enclave, Haq said the UN wants "the previous system of normal humanitarian traffic, normal commercial traffic to be restored, and so we do not accept any of these closures."
