In a grave development adding to a series of international warnings, Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has said that the occupying power has effectively imposed a death sentence on Gaza City, noting that its residents are now left with only two harsh choices: forced displacement or death.
Cherevko made her remarks during a virtual press briefing from Deir al-Balah in the south of the Strip, stating: “Hundreds of thousands of exhausted and terrified civilians have been ordered to flee to an overcrowded area that can barely accommodate even small animals searching for space to move”; a reference to the occupation’s evacuation orders under threat of attack.
Since 3 September, the occupying forces have been carrying out a major offensive, named “Gideon’s Chariots 2”, to seize Gaza City in the north. On Saturday morning, they dropped warning leaflets in key neighbourhoods such as Southern Rimal, Sheikh Ajlin, Tel al-Hawa and Gaza Port, instructing residents to evacuate via Al-Rashid Street to the south.
Cherevko stressed the need to end the horrific violence in Gaza, saying: “We need urgent decisions that pave the way for lasting peace before it is too late; voices to silence the bombs and actions to stop the bloodshed.” She also underlined the necessity of opening all crossings and corridors for unobstructed humanitarian aid, pointing out that Palestinians are not seeking charity but their fundamental right to live in safety and dignity.
She explained that the United Nations operates an effective distribution network of more than 400 centres covering different parts of the Strip, ensuring that aid reaches even the most vulnerable groups. Activities include kitchens, bakeries and distribution hubs capable of meeting essential humanitarian needs.
The UN spokesperson criticised the mechanism launched by the occupying power in cooperation with a “US-Israeli” body known as the “Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation”, saying the key difference is that this entity exposes people to additional risks by forcing them into open military zones.
It is worth noting that the occupation has repeatedly targeted gatherings of civilians waiting for aid at distribution points, resulting in thousands of deaths and injuries.
Since 2 March, the occupying power has closed all crossings into Gaza, blocking food, medicine and humanitarian assistance, leading to worsening famine. Even the limited quantities permitted in do not meet the minimum needs, with many trucks looted by gangs protected by the occupation.
Since 7 October 2023, the occupation, backed by the United States, has been committing genocide in Gaza, combining direct killing with starvation, destruction and forced displacement. According to the latest figures, the assault has left 64,756 people dead and 164,059 injured, most of them women and children, alongside hundreds of thousands displaced. Famine alone has killed 413 Palestinians, including 143 children, as of Friday.
OCHA’s statements reflect the depth of the worsening humanitarian catastrophe, where civilians in Gaza are treated as if under a collective death sentence. With crossings still closed and aid targeted, it is clear that what is happening in Gaza is not merely an armed conflict but a systematic extermination of life itself, amid international failure to halt it or hold the perpetrators to account.
