UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher sparked a livid row this week when he mentioned 14,000 infants in Gaza have been prone to dying inside two days if important support was not allowed into the war-torn territory.
Israel has stridently hit again on the claims, accusing Mr Fletcher of “blood libel” over the assertion.
Here’s what occurred.
UN chief says ‘totally chilling’ variety of infants in dangerIn the future after Israel introduced it could permit some support to be despatched to Gaza following an 11-week blockade, Mr Fletcher made the declare 14,000 infants have been prone to dying if higher quantities of support weren’t allowed into the territory.
“There are 14,000 infants that may die within the subsequent 48 hours until we are able to attain them,” he mentioned in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s As we speak programme on Tuesday morning.
“I wish to save as many of those 14,000 infants as we are able to within the subsequent 48 hours,” he mentioned, including the UN wanted to “flood the Gaza Strip with humanitarian support”.
Requested throughout that interview how the UN had labored out that 14,000 infants could die inside 48 hours if extra support doesn’t attain them, Mr Fletcher mentioned groups on the bottom have been working exhausting in locations reminiscent of medical centres and colleges to evaluate want.
“We nonetheless have a number of individuals on the bottom. And they also’re on the medical centres, they’re on the colleges. We had one other college bombed yesterday, attempting to evaluate wants, and this is the reason our mechanism for getting support in, it is imperfect,” he mentioned.
Israeli authorities hits again at claimsThe Israeli authorities condemned Mr Fletcher’s feedback, accusing the pinnacle of the UN Workplace for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) of ignoring Hamas atrocities and echoing the terrorist organisation’s propaganda.
The Israel International Ministry tweeted: “When Tom Fletcher … ignores Hamas’ atrocities however echoes their propaganda – it’s not humanitarian work, it’s blood libel.”
The international ministry additionally mentioned Mr Fletcher “conveniently ‘forgets’ that Hamas terrorists function from hospitals, fireplace rockets from UN colleges, and hijack humanitarian support – making the most of it whereas recruiting 1000’s and stockpiling weapons.”
The Israeli administration additionally weighed in from its official X account: “Genocide? Struggle crimes? These aren’t information – they’re fabrications.”
It continued: “Fletcher’s accusations collapse underneath scrutiny, similar to each one in all his previous claims. He’s not after justice. He’s after headlines and cash.”
UN physique says infants will undergo with out assistWhen requested to make clear Mr Fletcher’s feedback, a spokesperson for OCHA mentioned: “It’s crucial to get provides into Gaza to save lots of an estimated 14,000 infants more likely to undergo from extreme acute malnutrition, because the IPC partnership has warned about.
“We have to get the provides in as quickly as potential, ideally inside the subsequent 48 hours. We are going to attempt to attain as many as we are able to within the days forward – and are prioritising child meals on first convoys.”
OCHA didn’t reply our questions on whether or not that IPC determine was the one Mr Fletcher was referring to. The Impartial has sought additional clarification.
The IPC is the Built-in Meals Safety Section Classification, a world initiative by organisations together with the European Fee, the World Financial institution and the World Well being Organisation.
Its newest report on acute meals insecurity and malnutrition within the Gaza Strip, revealed on 12 Might, mentioned greater than 2 million individuals throughout the territory would probably expertise disaster ranges of meals insecurity or worse, together with almost 469,500 who’re more likely to expertise catastrophic meals insecurity.
The report projected there could be 70,500 circumstances of acute malnutrition in kids aged six to 59 months between April 2025 and March 2026, together with 14,100 extreme circumstances.
“Speedy motion is crucial to forestall additional deaths, hunger and acute malnutrition, and a descent into famine,” the report mentioned.
Mr Fletcher has not addressed his feedback since, however has been lively on social media.
He tweeted on Thursday: “In shut contact with group in #Gaza. As we speak will probably be essential. Truckloads of lifesaving support lastly on transfer once more.
“I’m in awe of [the] braveness of our humanitarians – however they proceed to face large challenges getting items out of the crossing to the place it’s wanted. Important, lifesaving work.”