UN Relief Coordinator Thomas Fletcher has condemned Israel’s blockade of aid shipments to Gaza as collective punishment. In a public statement on social media, Fletcher called on the Israeli authorities and those who still communicate with them to lift the brutal blockade. “The blockade of aid is starving the civilian population, leaving them without basic medical care, depriving them of their dignity and hope and leading to a cruel form of collective punishment” he said. “The blockade of aid is killing.” Two months ago, the Israeli authorities deliberately decided to block all aid to the Gaza Strip, Fletcher said. “They openly stated that they wanted to use this policy to put pressure on Hamas” he added. “Yes, the hostages must be released immediately and they should never have been taken away from their families.” However, Fletcher argued that humanitarian aid must be allowed under international law and that it should not be used as a bargaining chip.
UN Coordinator Blasts Israel’s Gaza Blockade as ‘Collective Punishment’ and Calls for Immediate Aid Relief
