Gaza’s fate still in limbo
United Nations: After a fortnight of diplomatic efforts and conscience-stirring appeals by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and international pressure, a convoy of 20 trucks loaded with relief supplies crossed the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza. This will provide assistance to 2 million people trapped by Israel’s blockade on Gaza. Israel has allowed the movement of 20 trucks into Gaza, but faces the threat of unauthorized vehicle attacks. In such a situation, the future of the United Nations program is hanging in the balance.
Another 200 trucks loaded with food, medicine and fuel are parked at the Egypt-Gaza border while Egyptian, Israeli and US officials bargain terms for passage into Gaza. “They are the lifeline for the people in Gaza,” Guterres said, “between death and life, with water, with food, with medicines, with everything the people of Gaza need.”
Israel has imposed a blockade of Gaza in retaliation for an October 7 terrorist attack by the Hamas group that rules the territory, cutting off electricity, water and supplies of medicine, fuel and other essential supplies. More than 1,400 people in Israel were killed in that attack and about 200 people were taken hostage by Hamas militants.
Palestinian officials say Israel’s retaliation has killed about 4,000 people. Guterres used his diplomatic skills to get Israel to agree to allow supplies from Egypt into Gaza in an arrangement involving Cairo, Washington and the United Nations.
They got some help from US President Joe Biden, who pressured Israel to allow 20 trucks to enter Gaza. But for the UN and Guterres, the bigger goal is to prevent Israel from launching a dangerous ground offensive to eliminate Hamas, which could cause massive civilian casualties and spread the conflict in the region.
One obstacle to allowing UN convoys is the inspection of trucks to ensure they are not carrying weapons. Israel has ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, also making it difficult to send relief supplies to the area.
Guterres said on Friday: “We are now actively engaging with all parties to ensure that these trucks get where they are needed.” Guterres also wants the relief system to grow beyond 20 trucks and become routine.
“We are not expecting a convoy to arrive, we are looking for authorized convoys with a meaningful number of trucks to go everywhere in Gaza to provide adequate assistance to the people of Gaza,” he said.
This would be a tough deal for Israel, which is preparing for a ground attack. The UN is, ultimately, at the mercy of Israel, which can destroy convoys entering Gaza.
The blockade has been described as collective punishment, which is a violation of international law. “I have repeatedly said that Hamas’s barbaric attack must be condemned,” Guterres said. But I have also said that they cannot be an excuse for collective punishment of the Palestinian people. Respect for international humanitarian law is essential.”
UAE Permanent Representative Lana Zaki Nusseibeh drew the distinction early last week: “Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people or the people of Gaza, who are suffering immensely today.”
The United Nations launched an aid program last year for Palestinian refugees displaced by the creation of Israel in 1949, the largest such program with an annual budget of $1.6 billion.
Known as the United Nations Relief and Works Program (UNRWA), it operates in Gaza and the West Bank, but also runs health centres, educational institutions and food distribution programs in neighboring countries hosting Palestinian refugees. UNRWA will distribute aid sent through the Rafah crossing.
Guterres said: “To be able to distribute aid on that side, it is essential that UNRWA has fuel and so we need to guarantee that we have enough fuel on the other side to distribute aid to those in need “
Israel objects to fuel going to Gaza because it fears Hamas could control it for military activities. In the second major conflict, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the UN became a helpless spectator due to a Security Council veto impasse, Guterres won a small symbolic victory through the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which sought to stabilize global supplies and Allowed food grains to be shipped out of Ukraine to help countries facing severe food shortages. But this was short-lived, as Russia threatened ships carrying Ukrainian grain and forced them to turn back.
