The United Nations on Tuesday called on Israel to reopen all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, which were closed by Israeli authorities on Saturday following military strikes in Iran. A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that the closures are impeding the delivery of essential humanitarian aid to the region’s population.
The Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings were shut down on Saturday. Israel cited “security adjustments” for the closures. The Rafah crossing with Egypt is the primary exit point for Palestinians from the territory that does not go through Israel.
“It is imperative that all crossings be reopened … as soon as possible,” U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing. “In recent days, our partners have been forced to ration fuel, prioritise life-saving operations, albeit in reduced capacity as our local stocks are going down.”
Dujarric added that while some humanitarian stockpiles exist within Gaza, they are being stretched to last longer while access is restricted. Humanitarian officials report that Gaza depends on fuel imports to power hospitals and operate water and sanitation services.
On Monday evening, Israeli authorities announced their intention to reopen the Kerem Shalom crossing, known as Karem Abu Salem to Palestinians, to permit the “gradual entry of humanitarian aid.” The crossing is located at the junction of Gaza, Israel, and Egypt.
The U.N.’s World Food Programme (WFP) responded to the announcement on Tuesday. “The crossings will ‌be opened, and that is timely for us, and we need to get in ‌aid as fast ‌as we can,” said Samer Abdel Jaber, WFP’s regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.
The closures follow an extended period of conflict and border restrictions that began in October 2023. International aid organizations have repeatedly reported on the humanitarian conditions in Gaza resulting from these restrictions. In 2023, South Africa initiated a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention, which remains ongoing.
In separate developments, Palestine’s Jerusalem Governorate reported Tuesday that Israeli forces have kept the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem closed to worshippers for the fourth consecutive day. For the second day, Israeli forces also conducted operations in the Askar refugee camp, located east of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus.
These events follow a plan approved last month by the Israeli government to designate large areas of the West Bank as state land. The move prompted a response from more than 80 U.N. member states, who issued a statement calling on Israel to reverse the decision.
