UN says Gaza aid operations remain constrained despite ceasefire

United Nations officials stated on Thursday that humanitarian operations in the Gaza Strip remain severely hampered despite the current ceasefire, citing persistent restrictions and damaged infrastructure. UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq reported that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to face significant obstacles in scaling up aid delivery to the Palestinian population.

Logistical Challenges in Aid Delivery

According to OCHA, aid convoys have faced rerouting orders from Israeli authorities for three consecutive days, forcing them to travel through the Philadelphi Corridor along the Egyptian border before navigating the narrow Coastal Road. Haq described this route as "narrow, damaged, and heavily congested," noting that movement remains slow even after repairs by the World Food Program, with additional crossings urgently needed to expand humanitarian response.

West Bank Violence During Harvest Season

In the occupied West Bank, UN humanitarian coordinator Ramiz Alakbarov led a field visit to the Ramallah area to assess challenges facing Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. UN records indicate 126 settler attacks related to the harvest have caused casualties or damage across 70 villages so far this month, resulting in 124 Palestinian injuries and the vandalism of over 4,000 olive trees.

Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

The constraints on aid operations come amid a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the population continues to face shortages of essential supplies including food, water, and medical resources. The UN has repeatedly called for improved access and additional routes to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to those affected by the recent conflict.