Article Summary
Participating in Israeli plans to enforce a military-controlled aid system in Gaza could implicate the UN in ongoing atrocity crimes and genocide risks, according to a UN briefing note. The plan, which involves channeling all humanitarian aid through militarized hubs, has been met with resistance from the UN and many humanitarian NGOs. However, these organizations face pressure from Israel and the US to participate. Critics argue that the international humanitarian system has served as a smokescreen for Western complicity in Israel’s actions, and that participating in the plan could normalize military control over aid elsewhere.
What This Means for You
- Understanding the potential implications of participating in Israel’s military-controlled aid system for the UN and international humanitarian organizations.
- Recognizing the importance of adhering to humanitarian principles and avoiding involvement in activities that may advance illegal occupations or contribute to international crimes.
- Staying informed about the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court into allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israeli and Hamas officials.
- Being aware of the potential for military control over aid in other conflict zones and the impact this may have on humanitarian principles and impartiality.
Original Post
Israeli plans to enforce a military-controlled aid system in Gaza could implicate the UN in ongoing atrocity crimes and genocide risks, a UN briefing note warns. The plan, which involves channeling all humanitarian aid through militarized hubs, has been met with resistance from the UN and many humanitarian NGOs. However, these organizations face pressure from Israel and the US to participate.
According to the 6 May briefing note, drafted by the UN’s humanitarian coordination arm, OCHA, participating in the plan would hamper the ability of the UN to play a meaningful political or humanitarian role in the future in Gaza. Critics argue that the international humanitarian system has served as a smokescreen for Western complicity in Israel’s actions, and that participating in the plan could normalize military control over aid elsewhere.
Israel claims that Hamas is diverting aid, but has provided little evidence of widespread diversion. The plan to take over aid distribution also comes as Israel has announced plans for an expanded campaign in Gaza and officials have vowed to indefinitely seize territory and potentially permanently displace the population.
A pivot point for the UN
The international humanitarian system faces a pivot point over Israel’s plans to enforce a military-controlled relief distribution system. Refuse to participate, and the UN and international humanitarian system would likely be sidelined. Get involved, and become further implicated in Israel’s occupation and potentially other international crimes.
Militarised hubs
Israel’s aid plans would see the existing humanitarian distribution system dismantled and replaced by a handful of “logistics and distribution hubs” near Israeli military positions in central and southern Gaza. The sites would be operated by private military security contractors or select NGOs, according to the UN paper. Palestinians would be forced to walk long distances to retrieve rations at overcrowded distribution sites where they’d be vetted by facial recognition screening. Northern Gaza appears to be “deliberately excluded” from aid plans.
Without the UN or established NGOs, the new aid distribution system would reportedly be run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a newly registered nonprofit with unclear humanitarian expertise. Its leaders include ex-members of the US military, a corporate advisor, and a security specialist.
Edited by Eric Reidy.
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The New Humanitarian puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. Find out more at www.thenewhumanitarian.org.
Key Terms
- Israeli plans in Gaza
- Military-controlled aid system
- Humanitarian NGOs
- ICJ investigation
- IHL violations
- International humanitarian law
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