UNITED NATIONS, Monday, May 05, 2025 (WNP): United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave alarm over Israel’s reported plans to intensify ground operations and prolong its military presence in Gaza, warning of devastating consequences for civilians in the war-ravaged enclave.
“This will inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq during a press briefing at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday. “What’s imperative now is an end to the violence, not more civilian deaths and destruction. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian State.”
The warning comes amid growing concerns from UN humanitarian agencies and international NGOs, who over the weekend condemned Israeli efforts to overhaul the existing aid distribution system by funneling supplies through military-controlled hubs in southern Gaza. Aid officials fear the move will cut off access to lifesaving assistance for the most vulnerable populations in the northern and central parts of the territory.
According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the humanitarian situation in Gaza is deteriorating rapidly. Over the weekend alone, dozens of people — including children — were reportedly killed, and hundreds injured, as Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling continued across the Strip. Access to aid remains critically restricted, with Israel blocking the entry of humanitarian and commercial goods for more than two months.
Widespread lawlessness is compounding the crisis. OCHA reported a surge in looting, especially around Gaza City, as dwindling supplies have driven desperate civilians to target businesses and even UN warehouses. In many cases, guards were able to prevent theft, but some facilities were already empty.
Water and sanitation infrastructure is also near collapse. A major pumping station in Beit Lahiya remains nonfunctional due to a lack of fuel, while a key water pipeline from Israel to northern Gaza was damaged on Friday, slashing the region’s water supply in half. Although the pipeline was repaired on Sunday with Israeli coordination, widespread fuel shortages continue to impede essential services.
In Rafah, located in southern Gaza, UN officials say not a single fuel retrieval operation has been permitted since April 18. Meanwhile, of the 27 planned humanitarian aid movements within Gaza since Saturday, 19 were denied outright. Several others were approved initially but then blocked by military forces on the ground.
“The Secretary-General continues to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages,” Haq emphasized, reiterating the UN’s longstanding position amid deepening international concern over the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.
