UN Scribe, Antonio Guterres, Seeks Probe Of Aid Centre Killing of Palestinians
By Yadnom Awu/ Asaba
The Secretary – General of the United Nations, UN, Antonio Gutierres has called for a prompt independent investigation into the killing of Palestinians at aid distribution centres in and around Gaza.
The call came against the backdrop of growing credible testimony to the growing violence at such centres.
Medical and other sources in the enclave, including the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), say that at least 75 Palestinians have been killed and 400 others wounded, many severely, by Israeli military personnel providing security cover for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation ( GHF), in less than a week .
The GHF is the creation of both Israel, the occupying power in Gaza and other Palestinian territories, and its main backer , America.
It was created to sidestep the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, which had been in charge of such services in Palestine since 1950.
Israel had accused UNRWA, without providing proof, of collaborating with Hamas, the de facto leader of the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation of Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and against which it has waged a high heel military campaign on Gaza.
The GHF has, however, not been warmly welcomed by the global community which says its underpins and operations fall far below global standards.
Reacting to the the situation at the centres, Guterres said that it was appalling that civilians would be killed at humanitarian aid distribution centres.
Consequently, he called for a far- fetched probe of the situation to establish the real cause of the needless violence.
The GHF has only four aid centres, with one yet to be activated, while UNRWA had 400 such centres before Israel imposed its crippling blockade on all forms of aid into Gaza and the Occupied West Bank.
Aside from food, water and medicine, UNRWA’ runs medical and educational services in Gaza and the West Bank.
