8\5\2025
The Refugee Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stated that the Israeli occupation’s proposed plan to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is a step to entrench its occupation, end the work of UNRWA.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said that the Israeli plan to deliver aid to Gaza is unacceptable and contradicts the fundamental principles of humanitarian work as per international humanitarian law and UN resolutions.
It pointed out that, according to the Israeli plan, aid will be distributed conditionally through centres controlled by the Israeli military in the city of Rafah, between what is referred to as the “Morag and Philadelphia corridors.” Aid will not be distributed anywhere else, and residents of Gaza will not be allowed access to it except under inspection, which constitutes a blatant violation of international law and all humanitarian principles and a renunciation of the occupation’s obligations under the Geneva Convention.
The statement clarified that Israel is attempting to use humanitarian aid to implement a plan to displace residents from the northern Gaza Strip to the south, turning the northern area into a depopulated buffer zone. It also accused Israel of holding the people of Gaza hostage to serve its military and security goals.
The department emphasized that the occupying state seeks through its plan to deceive the international community, whitewash its image, and escape international pressure to open border crossings and allow the entry of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, especially after imposing a tight blockade on Gaza since 1 March, during which aid was prevented and water and electricity supplies were cut.
It added: “The Israeli plan is no longer deceiving international organizations, which have affirmed that it aims to reinforce the occupation’s control over essential supplies as part of a military pressure strategy, which constitutes a clear violation of humanitarian principles.”
The department stressed that the responsibility for distributing aid in Gaza lies with UNRWA and its partners, not the occupying power, which is besieging the Palestinian people in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon to force them to migrate.
The department praised the stance of the United Nations and the international humanitarian working group in the occupied Palestinian territory, who both rejected the Israeli plan and refused to be part of it. They reaffirmed their support for plans that uphold the four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality.
It called on the international community to stop the Israeli genocide being committed in Gaza, to open the border crossings, and to allow the entry of international humanitarian aid under UN supervision, free from any Israeli military or political interference, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2720 and 2728. It also called for the prosecution of Israeli leaders in international courts for crimes against the Palestinian people, including violations of the UN Charter and international law, and acts of genocide and starvation.
Finally, it stressed the need to protect and support UNRWA politically and financially so it can fulfil its duties toward millions of refugees until a political solution is found for their plight, in accordance with Article 11 of UN Resolution 194.The Refugee Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stated that the Israeli occupation’s proposed plan to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip is a step to entrench its occupation, end the work of UNRWA.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the department said that the Israeli plan to deliver aid to Gaza is unacceptable and contradicts the fundamental principles of humanitarian work as per international humanitarian law and UN resolutions.
It pointed out that, according to the Israeli plan, aid will be distributed conditionally through centres controlled by the Israeli military in the city of Rafah, between what is referred to as the “Morag and Philadelphia corridors.” Aid will not be distributed anywhere else, and residents of Gaza will not be allowed access to it except under inspection, which constitutes a blatant violation of international law and all humanitarian principles and a renunciation of the occupation’s obligations under the Geneva Convention.
The statement clarified that Israel is attempting to use humanitarian aid to implement a plan to displace residents from the northern Gaza Strip to the south, turning the northern area into a depopulated buffer zone. It also accused Israel of holding the people of Gaza hostage to serve its military and security goals.
The department emphasized that the occupying state seeks through its plan to deceive the international community, whitewash its image, and escape international pressure to open border crossings and allow the entry of humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, especially after imposing a tight blockade on Gaza since 1 March, during which aid was prevented and water and electricity supplies were cut.
It added: “The Israeli plan is no longer deceiving international organizations, which have affirmed that it aims to reinforce the occupation’s control over essential supplies as part of a military pressure strategy, which constitutes a clear violation of humanitarian principles.”
The department stressed that the responsibility for distributing aid in Gaza lies with UNRWA and its partners, not the occupying power, which is besieging the Palestinian people in Gaza and using starvation as a weapon to force them to migrate.
The department praised the stance of the United Nations and the international humanitarian working group in the occupied Palestinian territory, who both rejected the Israeli plan and refused to be part of it. They reaffirmed their support for plans that uphold the four humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality.
It called on the international community to stop the Israeli genocide being committed in Gaza, to open the border crossings, and to allow the entry of international humanitarian aid under UN supervision, free from any Israeli military or political interference, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 2720 and 2728. It also called for the prosecution of Israeli leaders in international courts for crimes against the Palestinian people, including violations of the UN Charter and international law, and acts of genocide and starvation.
Finally, it stressed the need to protect and support UNRWA politically and financially so it can fulfil its duties toward millions of refugees until a political solution is found for their plight, in accordance with Article 11 of UN Resolution 194.
