Israel rejects UNRWA request to aid in recovery of injured from Gaza’s bombed buildings

Israel has rejected UNRWA’s request that it be allowed to help recover Palestinians who are trapped under the rubble of buildings after Israeli bombing campaigns, the body’s spokesperson in Gaza, Inas Hamdan, has said.

Hamdan also warned that food security in the Gaza Strip is at severe risk, particularly in the northern regions, which are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe. She called for essential relief supplies, including food, water, fuel and medicine, to be allowed entry into the area, Sama reported.

According to UNRWA’s website, Hamdan said in a statement on Wednesday: “This is the situation UNRWA and other UN institutions have been warning about for months. The scenes in the north are shocking and terrifying. Families have been trapped for more than two weeks, with homes and infrastructure being bombed, including a shelter and a school that were hit in recent days. Meanwhile, not enough supplies or relief aid have been allowed to reach the population.”

She explained that, according to reports, “most food supplies have run out, and there is not enough drinking water. Fuel shortages are critical, and many victims lie on the streets, with no access to medical services. The three main hospitals in the area are operating beyond capacity with limited resources, and two of them have been directly hit in recent days.”

Hamdan highlighted that despite the challenges over the past year, UNRWA staff have continued to provide services. However, they are trapped alongside the residents and are doing their best under the circumstances. They are urgently calling for medical teams and essential supplies to support their efforts.

READ: UNRWA ‘very near’ possible breaking point in Gaza operation, head says