UN condemns 鈥榳eaponization of food鈥� in Gaza

Palestinians queue at a water distribution point in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 23, 2025. The Israeli blockade imposed in early March amid an impasse in truce negotiations had produced famine-like conditions across Gaza, according to rights groups. (AFP)
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  • UN urges Israel鈥檚 military to 鈥榮top shooting at people trying to get food鈥�

GENEVA: The United Nations on Tuesday condemned Israel鈥檚 apparent 鈥渨eaponization of food鈥� in Gaza, a war crime, and urged Israel鈥檚 military to 鈥渟top shooting at people trying to get food.鈥�

鈥淚srael鈥檚 militarized humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution,鈥� the UN human rights office said in written notes provided before a briefing.

鈥淒esperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food.鈥�

The US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began food distribution operations in Gaza on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into the occupied Palestinian territory for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine.

The UN said in May that 鈥�100 percent of the population鈥� of the besieged territory were 鈥� at risk of famine.鈥�

The UN and major aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF 鈥� an officially private effort with opaque funding 鈥� over concerns it was designed to cater to Israeli military objectives.

UN rights office spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan warned in the briefing notes of 鈥渟cenes of chaos around the food distribution points鈥� of the GHF.

Since the organization began operating, 鈥渢he Israeli military has shelled and shot Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, leading to many fatalities,鈥� he said.

He pointed to reports that 鈥渙ver 410 Palestinians have been killed as a result, (while) at least 93 others have also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organizations.鈥�

鈥淎t least 3,000 Palestinians have been injured in these incidents,鈥� he said.

鈥淓ach of these killings must be promptly and impartially investigated, and those responsible must be held to account.鈥�

Kheetan cautioned that the system 鈥渆ndangers civilians and contributes to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.鈥�

鈥淭he weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime, and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law,鈥� he warned.

The UN rights office demanded immediate action to rectify the situation.

鈥淭he Israeli military must stop shooting at people trying to get food,鈥� Kheetan said, also demanding that Israel 鈥渁llow the entry of food and other humanitarian assistance needed to sustain the lives of Palestinians in Gaza.鈥�

鈥淚t must immediately lift its unlawful restrictions on the work of UN and other humanitarian actors,鈥� he said.

And he called on other countries to 鈥渢ake concrete steps to ensure that Israel 鈥� the occupying power in Gaza 鈥� complies with its duty to ensure that sufficient food and lifesaving necessities are provided to the population.鈥�