Natalie Boucly, Deputy Commissioner General for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), told reporters during a recent trip to Brussels that by continuing to impose restrictions on aid entering Gaza, Israel is “not abiding by international humanitarian law and international human rights law.” She referred to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention which requires protection for civilians in times of war or occupation. Boucly added that Israel has not been in compliance with the Oct. 22 International Court of Justice advisory opinion which demanded that Israel, as an occupying power, provides “the essential supplies of daily life.” Boucly made the point that this same ICJ decision obligated Israel to cooperate with the UNRWA.
People in Gaza still need food, medicine, shelter, and other necessities of life. Boucly said, “As winter approaches and famine continues to grip the population, it is critical that all this aid is allowed into Gaza without delay. Our supplies would be able to provide food … for the entire population for about three months. And that is sitting outside [in Jordan and Egypt], not able to come in. And that is the case for the other UN agencies because the restrictions and the constraints are still there.”
