Gaza: As the world's attention shifts elsewhere, people in Gaza are being killed simply for trying to reach food, said Jonathan Whittall, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
According to Jordan News Agency, Whittall stated during a press briefing from Gaza that over 400 people have been killed since the partial lifting of the blockade just over a month ago, many of whom were attempting to access food. Whittall emphasized that survival is being met with a death sentence in Gaza.
Whittall recounted visiting the overcrowded wards and corridors of Nasser Hospital, where many of the victims were either shot or bombed while attempting to reach U.S.-Israeli distribution points set up in militarized zones. He reported that Israeli forces are routinely firing on crowds seeking aid, rendering many unreachable by ambulances, with numerous people still missing and presumed dead in these heavily militarized areas.
He further described incidents where individuals were killed on roads leading to Gaza when Israeli forces opened fire on people awaiting aid convoys. Whittall noted a recent incident in which a tank shell struck a group waiting for food trucks, resulting in around 60 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Additionally, Whittall highlighted the issue of armed gangs operating near Israeli positions, which have also been responsible for civilian casualties. Humanitarian convoys and their protectors are frequently targeted, further complicating aid delivery.
Emphasizing the dire situation, Whittall stated that access to basic life necessities should not come at the cost of death. He expressed concern over the severe lack of clean water in Gaza, where fuel shortages have rendered many wells inoperable and damaged pipelines waste the scarce supply.
According to Whittall, only about 17% of Gaza's land is accessible. Hospitals are overwhelmed, barely functional, and often affected by forced evacuation orders, with basic medical supplies running dangerously low. Fuel is being rationed to prevent a complete shutdown of life-saving services, and without lifting the fuel blockade, preventable deaths are expected to rise.
Malnutrition is reaching critical levels, with UNICEF data indicating that more than 110 children are admitted daily for severe malnutrition since the start of 2025. Whittall described desperate scenes where hungry crowds strip food from aid trucks, with criminal gangs sometimes seizing what little is delivered.
Amid relentless ground and air operations, Whittall condemned the blatant disregard for international humanitarian law, noting that life and dignity are under constant assault. The ongoing conditions, he said, are designed to result in death, constituting a massacre where hunger is weaponized, and forced displacement is rampant.
Whittall stressed that as the occupying power, Israel has clear obligations that are not being met, calling for accountability for crimes committed. He urged for concrete political and economic pressure from states and an immediate, permanent ceasefire in line with the International Court of Justice's rulings.