United Nations (UN) humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher has warned that thousands of babies in Gaza could die if aid trucks are not urgently allowed in, speaking in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday May 20.
The delay has become a growing political issue, with international pressure mounting on Israel to open safe routes for humanitarian relief.
Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said limited aid was allowed into Gaza for “practical and diplomatic reasons,” but the UN has been unable to distribute it because of logistical obstacles placed by Israel.
Mr. Fletcher stressed that the limited aid reaching Gaza falls drastically short of what is needed, calling the baby food delivered by five trucks on Monday “a drop in the ocean.”
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that two of the five aid trucks entering Gaza on Friday were carrying burial shrouds instead of food.
The group’s head Ramy Adbu spoke out stating that “this isn’t food, its preparation for mass death. Gaza isn’t being fed. It’s being buried.”
The UN have stated that a minimum of 500 aid trucks is needed each day to meet the basic needs of Gaza’s population, which is estimated at 2.23 million people.
Perth students protest famine in Gaza
Perth students gathered on a bridge overlooking Leederville train station during peak-hour traffic this week, to protest the suspension of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Among them was student journalist and human rights advocate Lara Kemp, who said the demonstration aimed to cut through what she called the “echo chamber” of mainstream media.
“I was raised on the promise of ‘never again’, and now I’m watching horrors beyond my comprehension unfold on my phone in real time,” she said.
With thousands of babies in Gaza facing starvation, protesters like Kemp say they are speaking out for urgent change.
“They are starving to death because Israel is inflicting a man-made famine on them whilst food sits a couple of km away on the back of a truck,” she said.
Standing with Ms Kemp was anthropology and sociology student Kandyce Kazmer.
“This is the most important thing I’ve ever done, and maybe ever will do. Caring about this is worth everything,” she said.
The students said they had received direct phone calls and social media messages from Gaza residents, describing them as urgent pleas for the West to recognise the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
“I can talk to people in Palestine. I can use Snapchat and go to the map and see with my own eyes through their screen what they are seeing in real time,
“It’s a completely different way of getting information without the middleman who can twist it. It’s just them, in the rubble talking to me here in Perth,” said Ms Kazmer.
Through acts of unity and awareness, the students are urging Australians to recognise the humanity and hope that persist amid the suffering.
“[Our] politics are simple, everyone everywhere deserves to live free of oppression, brutality and torment,” said Ms Kemp.
Israel signals deeper offensive in Gaza
Israel has flagged a significant escalation in its military campaign, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirming on May 6 that the security cabinet had approved Operation Gideon’s Chariots.
An Israeli official said the planned offensive would involve “the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories.”
An Israeli government minister has vowed that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result, and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries,” raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.
The announcement has sparked international alarm, with humanitarian groups warning that an expanded military offensive would worsen the already dire conditions inside Gaza and further block the delivery of critical aid.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has declared that the “population will be moved, for its own protection” but has not provided further details.
Egypt and Jordan have both stated they will not accept an influx of refugees from Gaza, arguing that doing so would implicate them in what they describe as the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian population.
The International Court of Justice is currently examining allegations of genocide against Israel over its military actions in Gaza.
In a set of provisional measures issued last year, the court ordered Israel to “take all measures” to prevent acts of genocide or incitement to commit genocide, and to ensure the “unhindered provision” of humanitarian aid through Gaza’s southern border with Egypt.
While Israel prepares for a deeper offensive, increased global attention and pressure offer a chance to prevent further devastation and push for urgent humanitarian access and accountability.
Australia joins global call for humanitarian access
The Perth protest comes amid growing pressure on the Australian Government to take a firmer stance on the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Australia has joined 22 other nations in signing a joint statement urging Israel to resume the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza, as global concern mounts over the deepening crisis.
The statement accuses Israel of obstructing the flow of essential supplies, including food and medical aid, and calls for immediate, unrestricted access to affected civilians.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also condemned recent comments made by members of Israel’s government, describing them as “abhorrent and outrageous.”
In an earlier statement, Wong reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to international humanitarian law and confirmed that more than $100 million in aid has been committed to the region.
Despite this, Australia has not followed some of its allies such as the UK, France and Canada, in threatening sanctions against Israel.
Instead, the government continues to push for a ceasefire and the restoration of aid corridors.
Australia’s response has been shaped by its longstanding support for a two-state solution and its diplomatic ties in the region.
