'Continued cycle of deprivation’: UN says Israel blocking crucial aid missions in Gaza

The United Nations says that since the start of this month, Israel has obstructed access to Gaza for nearly one-third of all aid missions, a move that perpetuates "a continued cycle of deprivation and distress" for the area's beleaguered residents.

The latest situation report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in August, out of the 85 coordinated humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza, only 34 received approval, while 32 were denied, 13 were impeded and six were canceled "due to various logistical, operational, or security challenges."

In southern Gaza, out of the 122 coordinated aid missions, 36 were denied, eight were impeded, and 15 were canceled.

Overall, the 68 missions, who were denied access, represent approximately one-third of all planned missions since August 1.

“The cumulative impacts of access constraints undermine efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs, perpetuating a continued cycle of deprivation and distress among affected people across Gaza,” the OCHA wrote.

The report added that as of July 4, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has documented 21 attacks on Gaza schools functioning as shelters, leading to a tragic toll of at least 274 deaths, among them women and children.

Notably, at least seven of these schools designated for internally displaced persons have been struck since August 1.

In a tragic turn of events on Saturday morning, the Israeli military targeted Al-Tabi'een school in the Ad Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, which was sheltering hundreds of displaced families, causing numerous casualties.

The Gaza government media office said more than 100 citizens were killed, including 11 children and six women, and dozens were injured.

Also, the UNICEF has reported that more than half of schools used as shelters have been directly hit in the last 10 months, including 264 public schools, 156 UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) schools and 57 private schools, with devastating consequences for children and families.

UNICEF: Israel directly bombs over half of school-turned-shelter during Gaza war

UNICEF says Israel directly bombed more than 50 percent of the school-turned-shelter over the past 10 months of its war against the Gaza Strip.

Ongoing Israeli air, land, and sea bombardments are wreaking havoc across the Gaza Strip, leading to increased civilian casualties, widespread displacement, and significant damage to homes and essential infrastructure, while ground incursions and intense fighting persist.

Only between August 9 and 12, 198 Palestinians were killed and 430 injured in Israeli attacks, excluding those whose bodies are yet to be identified, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The Tel Aviv regime has so far killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians and injured more than 92,150, most of them women and children.

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