Destroyed buildings in the northern part of the besieged Gaza Strip on May 22. AFP
Destroyed buildings in the northern part of the besieged Gaza Strip on May 22. AFP
Destroyed buildings in the northern part of the besieged Gaza Strip on May 22. AFP
Destroyed buildings in the northern part of the besieged Gaza Strip on May 22. AFP

Israel has authorised only a 'teaspoon' of aid into Gaza, says UN chief


Adla Massoud
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Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

The amount of aid Israel has authorised to go into Gaza amounts to “a teaspoon”, when a flood of humanitarian assistance is needed, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday as he reiterated the risk of widespread famine.

Israel blocked food deliveries as it resumed major military operations in Gaza in early March, ending a two-month ceasefire. The UN chief said 80 per cent of Gaza has been declared either an Israeli militarised zone or an evacuation area, making it a “no-go zone” for civilians.

“For nearly 80 days, Israel blocked the entry of life-saving international aid,” he said. “The entire population of Gaza is facing the risk of famine.”

Mr Guterres called on Israel, as the occupying power, to remove “staggering” obstacles to aid delivery. He said of the nearly 400 lorries cleared for entry to Gaza at the Kerem Shalom crossing, only 115 lorries have been offloaded.

“All the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid,” he noted.

Mr Guterres called on Israel, as the occupying power, to remove “staggering” obstacles to aid delivery as almost 400 lorries were cleared for entry to Gaza through the Karam Abu Salem crossing but supplies from only 115 lorries have been able to be collected.

“All the aid authorised until now amounts to a teaspoon of aid,” he noted.

Israel has allowed aid deliveries by the UN and other aid groups to briefly resume until a new US-backed distribution model – run by a new private group called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – is operational by the end of the month.

COGAT, the Israeli Defence Ministry body that oversees civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that 107 humanitarian aid lorries entered Gaza on Thursday.

But Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said Friday that the UN had brought in 500 to 600 per day on average during a six-week ceasefire that broke down in March.

“No one should be surprised let alone shocked at scenes of precious aid looted, stolen or 'lost',” Mr Lazzarini said on social media.

Mr Guterres reiterated the UN's refusal to participate in any aid mechanism violates international law, stressing the principles of “humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality”.

He said the UN and its partners have laid out a five-stage aid plan backed by member states to scale up humanitarian deliveries to Gaza.

“We have the personnel, the distribution networks, the systems and community relationships in place to act,” he said, noting that the UN had enough supplies to fill nearly 9,000 lorries.

Gaza's health ministry said at least 3,509 people have been killed since Israel resumed strikes on March 18, taking the war's overall death toll to more than 53,700 people, most of them civilians.

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The finalists

Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho

Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson

Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)

Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)

Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola

Updated: May 25, 2025, 12:49 AM`