UN calls on Israel to allow aid flow into Gaza

A displaced Palestinian girl eats outside a tent at a camp sheltering displaced people in Gaza City, April 28, 2026. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on basic life necessities so as to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

The appeal came during a briefing by UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan at the United Nations’ weekly press conference in Geneva. Al Kheetan said that Israel — as the occupying power in Gaza — is obligated to meet the basic needs of Palestinians in the enclave and ensure the removal of all restrictions on the entry and flow of humanitarian assistance.

He added that the situation in Gaza remains very serious due to the acute shortage of clean drinking water, food, cooking gas, and other essential supplies.

Despite a ceasefire in Gaza since October 2025, the coastal strip continues to face a tight blockade by Israelis while daily Israeli attacks continue. These assaults have resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, including both fatalities and injuries.