**UN Agencies Urge Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Address Humanitarian Aid Challenges**

The leaders of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have made a private appeal to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking his intervention to alleviate civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Lebanon. The plea, contained in a letter seen by Reuters dated October 11, calls for Netanyahu's political will and commitment to enable effective humanitarian action.

Aid delivery to Gaza has reached its lowest levels this year, according to U.N. data, amid warnings from global hunger monitors and accusations that Israel has blocked numerous aid attempts, particularly to Gaza's northern regions. With Israel initiating a broad military offensive in northern Gaza earlier this month, the United States has emphasized the need to ensure that Israel's actions do not amount to a policy of starvation.

Netanyahu's office has yet to respond to the letter. In their correspondence, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the urgent need for Israel to uphold its humanitarian obligations and ensure the safety of aid workers and civilians.

The appeal from the UN officials comes just after commemorating the first anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas militants, which triggered severe retaliation from Israel in Gaza, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. Additionally, the appeal was made two days before the United States set a deadline for Israel to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or face possible restrictions on U.S. military aid.

Russell and McCain have requested six specific commitments from Netanyahu and urged the appointment of a high-level contact to address these issues. They called for maximum restraint in protecting civilians and critical services and demanded unambiguous security assurances to facilitate a safe operating environment, which includes streamlined procedures with the Israeli military (IDF).

Highlighting the need for an effective humanitarian notification system, Russell and McCain cited the successful use of area-specific pauses in fighting for the polio vaccination of children in Gaza. They urged that such measures be consistently applied to enhance large-scale humanitarian efforts.

The United Nations is also grappling with a humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, following Israeli airstrikes and ground operations against Hezbollah militants. The UN officials implored the opening of all access points, improved operating hours, more approved routes within Gaza, and urgent road repairs to combat the aid distribution impediments blamed on Israel and lawlessness.

The letter pointed out the severe impact on Gaza, where health authorities report over 42,000 people killed and nearly the entire 2.3 million population displaced. According to U.N. figures, 312 aid workers, including 230 U.N. staff, have died in Gaza.

Russell and McCain stressed the necessity for commercial goods to flow again into Gaza, noting that humanitarian assistance cannot sustain the two million people in the region. They also advocated for a ceasefire across Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon and the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for the past year.

This urgent call to action underscores the pivotal role that political decisions and military actions play in mitigating humanitarian crises and protecting civilian lives.