UN / GAZA OPT UPDATE

Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said “hostages in Gaza must be released, but international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in,” and “aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip.” UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:02:57
• Production Date: 1 May 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: THOMAS FLETCHER; STEPHANE DUJARRIC
• Corporate Name: OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA; WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION - WHO
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW; BLOCKADE; HUNGER; FOOD SECURITY; PUBLIC HEALTH; DISEASES
• Geographic Subject: GAZA; PALESTINE; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3372609
• Parent Id: 3372609
• Alternate Title: unifeed250501a

Description

STORY: UN / GAZA OPT UPDATE
TRT: 02:57
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 01 MAY 2025, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE - NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

01 MAY 2025, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric at the podium
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator, said that the hostages in Gaza must be released, but international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in. Aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip, he said. Mr. Fletcher underscored that the humanitarian movement is independent, impartial, and neutral and believes that all civilians are equally worthy of protection. But as the UN Secretary-General has made it clear, the latest modality proposed by Israeli authorities does not meet the minimum bar for principled humanitarian support. He called on the Israeli authorities to lift this brutal blockade and let the humanitarians save lives. And he told the civilians of Gaza: We won’t give up, even if the world has given you every reason to give up on us.”
4. Wide shot, Dujarric at the podium
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, United Nations:
“Humanitarian operations continue to be stifled by severe movement restrictions inside Gaza, as well as military activity and attacks that jeopardize the safety of aid workers and their premises. Recent strikes have reportedly hit residential buildings and tents sheltering displaced people, especially in Rafah and eastern Gaza City. As of this Tuesday, our humanitarian partners estimate that more than 423,000 people in Gaza have been displaced once again, with no safe place to go in Gaza. With most commodities unavailable, attacks on humanitarian convoys and looting are increasing, there were two incidents in Gaza City yesterday. This not only endangers the lives of aid workers but also disrupts aid operations and hurts those people who are meant to receive the aid. The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners report severe shortages of vital medicines and medical equipment. They also warn that acute watery diarrhoea cases have risen by 4 percent compared to previous weeks, as the weather gets warmer, and hygiene conditions continue to deteriorate. Meanwhile, our colleagues on the ground have not been enabled to retrieve remaining stocks of desperately needed fuel located in areas that require coordination with Israeli authorities. Eight out of our nine such attempts have been denied by the Israeli authorities since mid-April. Our partners working to provide child protection support warn that children – who make up half of Gaza's population – face escalating levels of trauma, they face violence, and they face neglect, as ongoing military operations, mass displacement, and funding shortages disrupt education and critical child protection services.”
6. Wide shot, end of briefing

Storyline

Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher today (1 May) said “hostages in Gaza must be released, but international law is unequivocal: As the occupying power, Israel must allow humanitarian support in,” and “aid, and the civilian lives it saves, should never be a bargaining chip.”

According to United Nations Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Fletcher “underscored that the humanitarian movement is independent, impartial, and neutral and believes that all civilians are equally worthy of protection.”

He called on the Israeli authorities “to lift this brutal blockade and let the humanitarians save lives,” and told civilians in Gaza, “we won’t give up, even if the world has given you every reason to give up on us,” Dujarric said.

The spokesperson reported that “humanitarian operations continue to be stifled by severe movement restrictions inside Gaza, as well as military activity and attacks that jeopardize the safety of aid workers and their premises,” and “recent strikes have reportedly hit residential buildings and tents sheltering displaced people, especially in Rafah and eastern Gaza City.”

As of this Tuesday, he said, “more than 423,000 people in Gaza have been displaced once again, with no safe place to go in Gaza,” and “with most commodities unavailable, attacks on humanitarian convoys and looting are increasing.”

Dujarric said the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have reported “severe shortages of vital medicines and medical equipment,” and have warned that “acute watery diarrhoea cases have risen by 4 percent compared to previous weeks, as the weather gets warmer, and hygiene conditions continue to deteriorate.”

He said, “colleagues on the ground have not been enabled to retrieve remaining stocks of desperately needed fuel located in areas that require coordination with Israeli authorities,” as “eight out of our nine such attempts have been denied by the Israeli authorities since mid-April.”