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According to top United Nations officials speaking to AP, the United Nations has told Israel they will suspend aid operations across Gaza unless urgent steps are taken to protect humanitarian workers better.

A significant problem highlighted by UN and other aid officials is the lack of direct communication with Israeli forces on the ground, a deviation from standard “deconfliction” procedures used globally in conflict zones to protect aid workers. This communication gap has led to dangerous working conditions for aid staff, who face unacceptable risks when collecting aid at crossings from Israel.

At a recent Security Council meeting, Israel blamed the UN for not delivering aid effectively in Gaza. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric countered, stressing that the real issue lies in the dangers faced by unarmed humanitarian workers. He reiterated the UN’s commitment to assessing the situation daily to determine the best way forward, without explicitly stating if operations would be suspended if conditions do not improve.

The United Nations has insisted that unless Israel improves its protection and communication measures, the suspension of aid operations throughout Gaza remains a very real possibility.

Logistical issues further complicate the situation; over 15 million pounds of food and aid have been delivered to Gaza but remain stuck in storage due to security concerns. The US military, which built the pier for aid delivery, is monitoring the capacity of the storage area, with Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder confirming ongoing communication with the UN World Food Program to manage these supplies effectively.