Israel has solely authorised a ‘teaspoon’ of support for Gaza, U.N. chief says

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Friday (May 23, 2025) mentioned Israel has only authorised for Gaza what “quantities to a teaspoon of support when a flood of help is required” and once more signalled that the UN will not participate in a brand new U.S.-backed distribution plan.

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“Without speedy, dependable, secure and sustained support entry, extra folks will die – and the long-term penalties on your complete inhabitants might be profound,” Mr. Guterres instructed reporters.

Israel says about 300 vans of support have entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing because it lifted an 11-week blockade on Gaza on Monday, however Mr. Guterres mentioned that to this point, solely a few third of these truckloads have been transported from the crossing to warehouses inside Gaza as a result of insecurity.

Meanwhile, a minimum of 60 folks have been killed by Israeli strikes throughout Gaza in a 24-hour interval, Gaza’s well being ministry mentioned Friday, as Israel pressed forward with its navy offensive and let in minimal support to the strip.

The lifeless included 10 folks within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis, 4 within the central city of Deir al-Balah and 9 within the Jabaliya refugee camp within the north, based on the Nasser, Al-Aqsa and Al-Ahli hospitals the place the our bodies have been introduced.

The strikes that lasted into Friday morning got here a day after Israeli tanks and drones attacked a hospital in northern Gaza, igniting fires and inflicting intensive harm, Palestinian hospital officers mentioned on Thursday. Videos taken by a well being official at Al-Awda Hospital present partitions blown away and thick black smoke billowing wreckage.

Israel has allowed support deliveries by the UN and different support teams to briefly resume till a brand new U.S.-backed distribution mannequin — run by the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – is up and working by the tip of the month. The U.N. says the plan is just not neutral or impartial, and that it’ll not be concerned.

Israel mentioned its blockade had been aimed partially at stopping Palestinian militants Hamas from diverting and seizing support provides. Hamas has denied stealing support. The GHF plan entails utilizing non-public safety contractors to move support to so-called safe hubs for distribution by civilian humanitarian groups.

“The United Nations has been clear: We won’t participate in any scheme that fails to respect worldwide regulation and the humanitarian ideas of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality,” Mr. Guterres mentioned.

The U.N. and its companions have a plan to get the help wanted into Gaza, he mentioned.

“The provides – 160,000 pallets, sufficient to fill almost 9,000 vans – are ready,” Mr. Guterres mentioned. “This is my enchantment for life-saving support for the long-suffering folks of Gaza: Let’s do it proper. And let’s do it straight away.