The United Nations and Israel are at Odds over Gaza Aid Protection

On Tuesday, senior U.N. officials informed Israel that they would suspend aid operations in Gaza unless immediate measures are taken to enhance the protection of humanitarian workers. According to two U.N. officials, a letter from the U.N. to high-ranking Israeli officials this month stipulated that Israel must facilitate direct communication between U.N. workers and Israeli forces in Gaza, among other requirements.

The latest development in the ongoing dispute reveals Israel’s readiness to provide ample aid to Gaza, hindered by the organizational delays within United Nations groups in delivering the assistance. Israel has voiced concerns regarding the United Nations’ inefficient aid distribution in Gaza.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has reported that approximately 500 trucks filled with humanitarian aid are waiting to be collected and distributed by UN agencies at the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom crossing. However, there appears to be no urgency to transport the aid into Gaza.

During the Tuesday press briefing, spokesman David Mencer from the Israeli National Public Diplomacy Directorate stated that the United Nations’ efficiency in delivering aid to the people of Gaza was lacking, not due to a shortage of food or supplies. He emphasized that the United Nations had been slow to distribute food and supplies to those in need.

These supplies have remained uncollected for three consecutive days, even though they have been inspected by Israel. COGAT has emphasized the necessity for the UN to intensify its efforts to address the urgent needs of the Gazan people during the continuing conflict.

The World Central Kitchen (WCK), established by Chef José Andrés, has been significantly impacting humanitarian aid delivery with the protective assistance from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In contrast to the United Nations’ more bureaucratic operations, WCK emphasizes quick response and effective food distribution in times of crisis. Their agile methodology enables them to quickly reach communities in need, offering meals and support where it is most crucial.

World Central Kitchen operates with remarkable agility, deploying teams capable of cooking large-scale meals tailored to local tastes quickly. In contrast to the United Nations, which has been slow to deliver food to Gaza from the outset, World Central Kitchen concentrates on prompt solutions, embodying Chef Andrés’ belief that “The solution has to be now.”

The World Central Kitchen (WCK) has resumed its operations in Gaza following a tragic incident in which a dual US-Canada national, a Palestinian, three British citizens, an Australian, and a Polish individual were killed due to an accidental IDF strike on a WCK convoy. After a two-week hiatus and encouraged by President Joe Biden, they have returned to Gaza to continue providing food to the Gazan population, collaborating with the IDF to ensure safety and prevent any further tragic accidents.

During the Tuesday State Department Press briefing, spokesman Matt Miller emphasized that the problem was not the quantity of aid waiting to enter Gaza, as there were indeed trucks lined up. However, the challenge arose once the trucks entered Gaza, where looting and theft of food and other essentials from the trucks occurred, with the stolen goods being sold.

Miller noted that the United Nations is seeking Israel’s assistance in protecting aid workers, but emphasized that the core problem is the vandalism occurring in Gaza after the aid’s arrival. He mentioned that the US, Israel, and the UN are in pursuit of a short-term solution.

The long-term solution lies in a ceasefire, which Hamas has rejected despite support from the United Nations, Israel, the United States, and many regional countries. “This issue could be resolved today,” Miller declared, “if Hamas would agree to a ceasefire.”