The United Nations has issued an urgent appeal to world leaders, calling for immediate action to deliver food and essential aid to the besieged population of Gaza, where Israel’s total blockade has now entered its ninth week.

In a statement released on Monday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) condemned the Israeli plan to manage humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, stating that it “contradicts basic humanitarian principles.”

“We have a large amount of stock ready to be distributed as soon as the blockade is lifted,” the UN said. “We call on world leaders to use their influence to make this happen. Now is the time to lift the blockade.”

OCHA warned that the Israeli-imposed restrictions, including the complete closure of Gaza’s crossings since March 2, have severely endangered civilian lives and obstructed humanitarian operations. The plan, according to the UN, promotes forced displacement and jeopardizes access to food and medical care for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians trapped in the war-torn enclave.

The agency further cautioned that redirecting civilians toward conflict zones to access limited food aid amounts to a dangerous policy, one that will leave “large parts of Gaza without food.”

UN teams remain on standby with essential supplies—including food, clean water, medical services, and nutritional aid—ready for immediate distribution as soon as the blockade is lifted.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate rapidly under Israel’s blockade, which has prevented the entry of vital supplies for over two months. Numerous international, governmental, and human rights organizations have echoed the UN’s alarm over what they describe as a man-made famine and collective punishment of Gaza’s civilian population. (ILKHA)