Gaza: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned that current aid deliveries to Gaza fall drastically short of what is needed, calling them a 'mockery' of the immense humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the besieged enclave.

According to Anadolu Agency, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini stated that reports indicate 900 trucks of aid were sent to Gaza in the past two weeks. This number represents just over 10 percent of the daily needs of the people in Gaza. Lazzarini described the current aid efforts as making a 'mockery' of the mass tragedy and highlighted the dire situation where people in Gaza are starving and enduring heavy bombardments.

Lazzarini emphasized that the demands are not excessive, urging that the UN, including UNRWA and other humanitarian partners, be allowed to perform their duties in assisting those in need and preserving their dignity. He recalled that during a previous ceasefire, the UN successfully delivered 600 to 800 aid trucks per day, which prevented famine at that time. He stressed that the current mass starvation can be halted if there is political will.

Since March 2, Israel has maintained a closure of all border crossings, halting the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and other essential supplies for Gaza's 2.4 million residents. The ongoing offensive by Israel since October 2023 has resulted in the deaths of nearly 54,400 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. Aid agencies have raised alarms about the risk of famine among the enclave's population exceeding 2 million.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions against civilians in the enclave.