Interview
Olga Cherevko: Israel is giving Palestinians the choice to starve or risk being killed
UN spokesperson in Gaza: ‘I entered Gaza today and saw thousands of hungry people around our vehicles. They pointed to their mouths and stomachs: they are hungry. The situation has never been as serious as it is now. I have been working here for years and have never seen Gaza in this state.’
We have seen three days of massacres, with shots fired at Palestinians desperately searching for food, according to a system designed for barbaric competition. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation's packages are not delivered: they are simply left on the ground, forcing people to fight for them under fire from the Israeli army. Real-life Hunger Games.
We spoke with Olga Cherevko, spokesperson in Gaza for OCHA, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
UN agencies have been criticizing the GHF's aid distribution system for weeks. What principles does it violate?
The UN and humanitarian agencies in Gaza and around the world operate according to globally established humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. Humanity means that we strive to alleviate suffering and address it wherever it is found; the purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings. Neutrality means that humanitarian actors must not take part in hostilities or disputes of a political, racial, religious, or ideological nature. Impartiality means that humanitarian action must be carried out solely on the basis of need, giving priority to the most urgent cases of suffering and without distinction as to nationality, ethnicity, gender, religious belief, class, or political opinion. Finally, independence: humanitarian action must be autonomous from political, economic, or military objectives or any other purpose that any actor may pursue when delivering assistance. We have made it clear that we do not intend to be part of a system that blatantly goes against these principles, a system that puts people at risk, deprives certain areas of humanitarian assistance, and uses aid as a bargaining chip or a tool to achieve military or political ends.
Since the GHF began its work, your fears have proven to be well-founded. What are the effects of their actions?
Today [June 4], we have again received reports of a high number of casualties being admitted to hospitals after being wounded near the sites where aid is being distributed. People should never have to risk their lives in search of food or anything else they need to survive. The people of Gaza are clearly being left to starve or face the prospect of being killed. I entered Gaza today and saw thousands of hungry people around our vehicles. They pointed to their mouths and stomachs: they are hungry. The situation has never been as serious as it is now. I have been working here for years and have never seen Gaza in this state.
What is the situation in terms of displacement due to the continuous increase in areas that the Israeli army is declaring off limits?
Over 640,000 people have been displaced anew since the ceasefire broke down on March 18. That is one-third of the population of Gaza. 200,000 people since May 15 alone. Many are fleeing with nothing, arriving in new areas with only the clothes on their backs.
Could the United Nations immediately restart operations in the distribution centers if aid trucks were allowed in?
Our working mechanism has always been operational, a system that ensures that aid reaches the population throughout Gaza. We are ready to resume at the pace achieved during the ceasefire. All crossings must be reopened and our work must not be hindered. I am not just talking about food, but everything needed to survive: shelter, fuel, cooking gas, medicines. And, beyond humanitarian aid, we must allow the commercial sector to restart so that people can rebuild their lives. This is the only way forward. This situation cannot continue; this catastrophe is getting worse by the hour and must end immediately.
Originally published at https://ilmanifesto.it/patire-la-fame-o-essere-uccisi-calpestato-il-principio-di-umanita on 2025-06-04