The United Nations’ top humanitarian official, Tom Fletcher, has accused Israel of deliberately imposing starvation on the population in Gaza, an act he stated constitutes a war crime under international law.
In an interview with the BBC, Fletcher said the crisis in Gaza had shifted international sentiment due to the visible and systematic suffering inflicted on civilians. He emphasized that the deliberate denial of food and essential aid to a population facing hunger met the criteria for a war crime. “Yeah, it is. It is classified as a war crime,” he said, clarifying that the ultimate judgment lies with the courts and history.
Fletcher also revisited a controversial remark he made earlier, where he had warned that 14,000 babies in Gaza could die within 48 hours if humanitarian access was not granted. He expressed regret for the statement, admitting it lacked precision and highlighting the need for careful use of language, especially in crisis communication.
Israel had begun easing its blockade on Gaza last week, allowing limited aid to enter after nearly three months of complete restrictions on essentials like food, medicine, fuel, and shelter. This decision came shortly after it resumed its military campaign, ending a brief two-month truce with Hamas. The renewed offensive was, according to Israeli authorities, aimed at pressing Hamas to release the 58 remaining hostages, among whom at least 20 are believed to be alive.
However, the easing of restrictions has led to chaos at distribution sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an aid group supported by both the US and Israel. The United Nations has refused to cooperate with GHF, and earlier this week, 47 people were injured when crowds overwhelmed one of the group’s distribution centres.
Fletcher criticized the continued blockage of aid despite the visible desperation on the ground. “We’re seeing food set on the borders and not being allowed in when there is a population on the other side of the border that is starving,” he noted, further citing statements from Israeli ministers indicating that this approach was intended to exert pressure on the people of Gaza.
He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to disavow inflammatory remarks made by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who had suggested that Gaza’s population should lose all hope and consider relocating to other countries. Fletcher emphasized that language promoting forced displacement is incompatible with international humanitarian law and urged global leaders to uphold legal and moral standards.
International criticism of Israel’s conduct in Gaza has intensified in recent weeks. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas remarked that Israeli strikes “go beyond what is necessary to fight Hamas.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz similarly questioned Israel’s objectives, stating that he could no longer discern the strategy behind the ongoing campaign. Earlier, leaders from the United Kingdom, France, and Canada had jointly urged Israel to cease military operations and allow immediate humanitarian access. Netanyahu responded by accusing them of siding with Hamas.
On May 14, Fletcher appealed to the United Nations Security Council, calling for urgent action to prevent what he described as potential genocide. He justified his call by referencing firsthand reports from colleagues in Gaza detailing starvation, mass deaths, torture, and forced displacement. He compared the present situation to past international failures to intervene in atrocities in Rwanda, Srebrenica, and Sri Lanka.
“We were told afterwards that we didn’t act in time, that we didn’t sound a warning,” Fletcher said. “And that’s my call to the Security Council and the world right now: will you act to prevent genocide?”
Fletcher faced fierce backlash from the Israeli government following his claim about the imminent deaths of 14,000 babies. Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused him of spreading Hamas propaganda and dismissed his remarks as inflammatory. Fletcher defended his intention, explaining that the comments were made in a desperate attempt to open a window for aid delivery under extremely restricted conditions. Still, he admitted the necessity for clarity and accuracy in future statements.
He was also asked about his previous assertion that thousands of trucks were waiting at Gaza’s border with aid. While standing by the urgency behind his claims, he acknowledged the importance of being meticulous with figures and terminology.
Despite the criticism, Fletcher maintained his commitment to speaking up for the civilians in Gaza. “I’m not going to stop speaking up for the need to save these lives in Gaza, to save as many survivors as possible. That’s my job, and I’ve got to do it better, and I will do it,” he said.
He reaffirmed the need for diplomacy and negotiation as the only viable path forward in the conflict, and reiterated his call for Hamas to release the remaining hostages. “We all want to see those hostages freed and back with their families,” Fletcher stated.
Addressing the broader context of the war, Fletcher questioned Israel’s long-term aims. “I don’t know now what the aim of this war is anymore. I think it has clearly gone beyond just the hostage releases,” he remarked, acknowledging widespread calls for the elimination of Hamas, yet asserting that the group has no place in the future governance of Gaza.
Fletcher rejected claims that Hamas was stealing substantial amounts of aid. “I don’t want to see any of that aid getting to Hamas,” he said. “That matters to us because these are our principles—neutral, impartial, independent.”
As the UN’s humanitarian coordinator, Fletcher said his primary concern remains to deliver aid to those in need as quickly and effectively as possible, while adhering to international standards.
He also highlighted that the Gaza crisis is only one of many global emergencies the UN is managing, including conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Syria. According to him, the current moment in global affairs is “profoundly dangerous.”
“The Security Council is polarized, divided,” he said. “That means it makes it much harder for us to end conflicts; the conflicts we’re dealing with are more ferocious, there’s more impunity, and they’re lasting longer. It’s getting harder and harder to end wars, and we humanitarians… deal with the consequences.”
The war in Gaza began after a deadly cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 others taken hostage. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that at least 54,249 people have died, including nearly 4,000 since Israel resumed its military operations.
What you should know
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, has accused Israel of using starvation as a tactic in Gaza, calling it a war crime.
He urged global leaders to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and criticized inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli officials. Despite backlash, Fletcher remains committed to delivering aid and seeking peaceful resolution.
