Residents of Gaza have been plunged into "abject fear" once again, a top UN humanitarian director said Tuesday, after intense Israeli strikes resumed on the Palestinian territory.
"Overnight our worst fears materialized. Airstrikes resumed across the entire Gaza Strip," Tom Fletcher, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told the UN Security Council in a video meeting.
"Unconfirmed reports of hundreds of people killed... and once again, the people of Gaza living in abject fear."
The council meeting was called -- prior to the air strikes -- by several member states to discuss the humanitarian situation as Israel has blocked aid into Gaza Strip since March 2.
"This total blockade of life-saving aid, basic commodities and commercial goods will have a disastrous impact on the people of Gaza who remain dependent on steady flow of assistance," Fletcher said.
"As Gaza is cut off -- again -- our ability to deliver assistance and basic services is becoming harder."
He said that during the recent ceasefire, before the new blockade, 4,000 aid trucks entered the territory each week, reaching more than two million people, and more than 113,000 tents were distributed.
"This proves what's possible when we're allowed to do our job," he added.
"We cannot and must not accept our return to pre-ceasefire conditions or the complete denial of humanitarian relief."
With the exception of the United States, almost all members of the Security Council expressed concern or condemned the new Israeli strikes, with Algeria accusing Israel of "completely disregarding" the ceasefire.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian UN ambassador, said that Palestinians are once again being "killed indiscriminately".
He called on the UN’s highest body to act on their condemnations.
"This can never be justified and must stop immediately. I agree with you, Madame President, when you said that you have a responsibility to act," Mansour said to Christina Markus Lassen, the Danish ambassador who is leading the council this month.
"You are the Security Council. Act. Stop this criminal action. Stop them from denying our people food in the month of Ramadan. You have resolutions. Act. You have power. Act."
He added, "Or as my friend, the ambassador of Slovenia said, you will become irrelevant."
The world is witnessing "another chapter of collective punishment, collective punishment being afflicted upon the people of Gaza," said Algerian ambassador Amar Bendjama.
"Once again, Palestinian blood is being used as a tool for the political calculations of the Israeli politicians," he said.
Acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea pushed back against accusations that the Israeli army was carrying out "indiscriminate attacks," asserting instead that it was "striking Hamas positions."
"The blame for the resumption of hostilities lies solely with Hamas," she said, after the group "steadfastly refused every proposal and deadline they've been presented over the past few weeks."
US President Donald Trump "has made clear that Hamas must release the hostages immediately or pay a high price, and we support Israel in its next steps," she said.
