Gaza crisis called a 21st-century atrocity by UN
GAZA CITY, GAZA - JULY 23: Palestinians carrying pans, gather to receive hot meals, distributed by a charity organization in Gaza City, where residents are struggling to access food due to the ongoing Israeli blockade and attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on July 23, 2025. (Photo by Khames Alrefi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
United Nations humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has urged for global powers to stop the “21st-century atrocity” in Gaza, The New Arab via AFP reported on September 24th.
At an event organised by Jordan and Belgium on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Fletcher said: “So we gather once again to share our testimony and our shame, to try to find words to convey the horror… to repeat that something must be done and, I fear, to accept that nothing will.”
“A child has been killed on average every hour for almost two years in Gaza, the lucky children sleep in tents”, while schools “have become sites of horror, depriving over 700,000 children of their right to education”, he said.
These comments come amid concern that Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza City has exacerbated an already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The UN has previously described Israeli attacks on schools and cultural areas as war crimes and the crime of extermination, as over 90% of Gaza’s educational infrastructure has been destroyed by Israeli airstrikes, shelling, burning and demolitions.
In Gaza and the West Bank, Israel has killed more than 16,600 students since October 7th, 2023, while at least 26,000 students have suffered wounds.
The Palestinian Ministry of Education reported that 914 teachers and additional administrative staff have been killed due to the war on Gaza.
In total, 788,000 students have been denied access to an education due to Israel’s war on Gaza.
The war on Gaza has also completely destroyed 60 universities, with 20 higher education institutions experiencing damage.
UN-backed experts have declared that a “man-made” famine is occurring in Gaza City, as conditions in the enclave have worsened due to Israel’s military campaign and restrictions placed on aid being brought into Gaza.
According to the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA), 20% of children living in Gaza City are malnourished. Gaza’s health ministry has reported that there have been at least 422 deaths from nutrition since October 7th, 2023.
Speaking about the death toll in Gaza, Fletcher added: “I fear that we will gather again to solemnly intone the death toll, to try to find new words to express the horror, to call again for action, but how many more must die, and what further damage will we have done to our shared humanity?”
More than 64,700 people are believed to have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza, with many more sustaining wounds. Gaza City has faced near-continuous bombardment from the Israeli military since October 2023.
The New Arab via AFP, Maghrebi.org
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