UN suspends aid in Rafah amid deepening Gaza crisis.
The United Nations has halted food distribution in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to a lack of supplies and a dangerous security situation caused by Israel’s ongoing military offensive. The aid body warned that humanitarian operations across the territory were collapsing, with over 1.1 million people facing catastrophic hunger levels.
For the past two weeks, hundreds of thousands have fled Rafah in chaos, seeking shelter elsewhere as conflict escalated. With some 400,000 still believed trapped there after a mass exodus, Rafah has borne the brunt of hostilities. The vital Rafah crossing into Egypt also remains closed since Israeli forces seized it on May 6th.
A senior US official anonymously acknowledged Israel had addressed concerns over a full-scale Rafah invasion to target Hamas. However, the USA did not greenlight the plans, stressing the need to prioritize civilian safety. The UN reported being unable to receive trucks at its new Gaza aid sea pier over the weekend with food stores for central Gaza depleted.
Both Israel and Hamas faced accusations of war crimes and targeting civilians at the ICC. Calls mounted for massive humanitarian supplies into Gaza to avert famine. Scenes of hungry children lining up for meals underscored the unfolding crisis in Rafah and elsewhere.
As hostilities continue without an end in sight, urgent international intervention is required to alleviate civilian suffering in the conflict-ridden enclave.
