Israel Punishes UN over Gaza Operations: Three Visas Denied

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In war-torn regions, conflict extends far beyond the battlefield — it reaches even humanitarian operations.

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Such is the case between Israel and the United Nations. The Israeli government has refused to renew entry visas for several senior UN officials working in Gaza, specifically the heads of three key agencies:

– The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
– The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
– The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)

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A Decision Tied to Gaza’s Humanitarian Emergency

The decision, confirmed by UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, sparked widespread international criticism. It comes amid a severe humanitarian crisis that has gripped Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, attributed Israel’s move to UN efforts aimed at protecting Palestinian civilians caught in the conflict.

Addressing the Security Council, Fletcher explained that the UN’s humanitarian mission goes beyond delivering aid — it also involves upholding international humanitarian law.

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“Every time we report what we witness, we face threats that hinder access to the civilians we’re trying to assist,” he said, adding, “Nowhere is the tension between humanitarian aid and human rights advocacy more acute than in Gaza.”

He stated plainly that the visas are “not being renewed or are being shortened — a direct response to our efforts to protect civilians.”

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A Crisis “Beyond Words”

Fletcher described the situation in Gaza as “beyond words,” citing food shortages and reports of civilians being shot while searching for food. He accused Israel, as the occupying power, of failing to meet its obligations under the Geneva Conventions to provide for the needs of civilians.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva, confirmed that the head of her agency’s office in the occupied Palestinian territories has been denied entry into Gaza.

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“The last attempt was in February 2025,” she told the Associated Press. “Since then, access has been denied.”

She added: “Unfortunately, this is not uncommon. Aid workers, UN staff, journalists, and others have also been prevented from entering Gaza.”

Israel’s Response

In turn, Israel accused the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of “abandoning all neutrality and impartiality in both words and actions,” despite claiming otherwise, according to the Associated Press.

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Ruth Shapir Ben Naftali, political coordinator for Israel’s UN mission, reminded the Security Council that the October 7 attacks resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people and the kidnapping of some 250 others — events that triggered the current war and worsened the humanitarian situation.

On the other side, over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

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Israel continues to accuse UNRWA of bias toward Hamas, and has gone as far as alleging that some of its staff took part in the October 7 attacks — allegations that UNRWA strongly denies.

Israel has previously barred UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini from entering Gaza, and has now officially banned the agency from operating in the Palestinian territories.

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