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Israeli occupation forces gunned down dozens of displaced Palestinians in Beit Lahia and Jabalia in northern Gaza. The intentional blockade of healthcare services and humanitarian aid has left the bodies of victims abandoned in the streets. Witnesses report stray dogs scavenging the remains, underscoring the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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The UN Middle East peace process coordinator warned Monday that the region stands at a “grim crossroads” following more than a year of devastating war and bloodshed.
“After over a year of horrific war and bloodshed, the region is at a grim crossroads,” Tor Wennesland told the UN Security Council. “We are living a nightmare. The trauma and grief that has been unleashed is immeasurable.”
Describing a dire picture of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly in the northern areas, Wennesland said “humanitarian situation in Gaza, as winter begins, is catastrophic, particularly developments in the north of Gaza with a large-scale and near-total displacement of the population and widespread destruction and clearing of land, amidst what looks like a disturbing disregard for international humanitarian law.”
He stated that conditions in Gaza are among the “worst” seen during the entire conflict, with no signs of improvement.
Expressing grave concern over the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, he also described it as being trapped in a “destructive spiral of violence and hopelessness.”
The UN envoy further criticized Israel’s continued expansion of settlements, accusing the government of accelerating settlement activity and warning against calls by some ministers for the annexation of the West Bank and the re-establishment of settlements in Gaza.
“These dynamics exact a political toll, further undermining the Palestinian Authority, which continues to face an ongoing fiscal and institutional crisis,” he said.
Wennesland warned that the institutional framework supporting the Palestinian people is “on the brink of dissolution,” which could lead to even greater instability in the region.
“If the parties cannot find a path out of perpetual warfare, then the international community must define the path forward,” he urged.
He stressed that Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state, firmly rejecting any calls for long-term Israeli military presence or settlements in the territory.
“There should be no long-term Israeli military presence in Gaza, while at the same time Israel’s legitimate security concerns, particularly in the wake of the acts of terror committed on 7 October, must be addressed. Calls for the reestablishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza must be firmly rejected and clearly opposed,” Wennesland emphasized.
Wennesland called on the international community to act urgently, warning that failing to do so could exacerbate the already dire situation.
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The Civil Defense in Gaza reported the destruction of its vital firefighting, rescue, and medical equipment, which was valued at $1.3 million, amid the ongoing Israeli genocide.
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An internal United Nations memo obtained by The Washington Post reveals that criminal gangs are looting humanitarian aid in Gaza under the protection of the Israeli military.
According to the memo, organized crime groups have been systematically seizing aid supplies in areas directly controlled and patrolled by the Israel military, significantly worsening the humanitarian crisis in the besieged enclave.
The report also quotes a senior official from a major international relief organization as stating that “We have not witnessed any interference from Hamas in our programs, whether in the north or the south”, denying Israeli accusations against the resistance movement.
The internal document concludes that these gangs “may be benefiting from a passive if not active benevolence” or even “protection” from the Israeli army.
Specifically, the memo highlights that one gang leader established a “military-like compound” in a restricted area near Karem Abu Salem crossing, which is closely monitored by Israeli forces.
Despite the presence of Israeli troops nearby, aid organizations report that Israeli soldiers have repeatedly decided not to intervene during attacks on aid convoys.
Officials from various aid groups, humanitarian workers, and transport companies describe how gangs have turned looting into an organized criminal enterprise, often resorting to extreme violence.
Armed men have attacked aid truck drivers, leading to kidnappings and, in some cases, fatalities. In a major incident reported last week, nearly 98 out of 109 trucks carrying UN food aid were ransacked near the border crossing. The attackers not only stole food but also injured several transporters and severely damaged vehicles.
According to Muhannad Hadi, the UN humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territories, the security situation in Gaza has completely deteriorated. “Gaza is basically lawless,” he said. “There is no security anywhere.” He emphasized that, as the occupying power, Israel bears the responsibility to protect and secure the aid convoys entering the region.
The memo further outlines how aid organizations have repeatedly requested Israeli authorities to implement better security measures, including safer routes and permission for Gaza’s civilian police to protect convoys. However, these requests have largely been denied.
The Israeli military has denied any involvement, claiming that its forces are focused on facilitating aid transfers and have carried out “targeted countermeasures” against the looters without causing collateral damage.
The looting has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. As winter approaches, aid organizations struggle to deliver critical food, hygiene items, and shelter supplies to over 2 million displaced Palestinians.
With aid supplies dwindling to their lowest levels since the early stages of the genocide, millions are now at risk of severe hunger.
The Biden administration had decided to maintain its military aid to Israel, despite mounting evidence of Israel’s systematic starvation campaign against Gaza, claiming that Israel has not breached American laws on blocking aid supplies. Earlier on the same day, Israel’s Defence Ministry confirmed that it has no immediate plans to send aid to the besieged northern Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Interior in Gaza has announced on Monday that it stated a large-scale security operation targeting outlaws, who have been looting humanitarian aid under the protection of Israeli forces. According to sources within the ministry, the crackdown led to the neutralization of Abu Shabab, who was mentioned in the UN memo as the main gang leader, as well as over 20 members of his gang according to the Quds News Network.
