The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm over the tightening restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, warning that the blockade is pushing civilians towards an unprecedented catastrophe. In a statement released today, UNICEF emphasised that the prevention of vital supplies, including vaccines and ventilators, will have devastating consequences, particularly for children.

The organisation warned that if medical supplies are not allowed in, routine vaccinations will come to a complete halt, putting newborns and young children at grave risk. Edward Biegbeider, UNICEF’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, condemned the restrictions announced on Sunday, stressing that they would severely hinder life-saving humanitarian operations. He called for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted access to aid to ensure essential relief efforts continue.

Biegbeider noted that during the first phase of the ceasefire, UNICEF was able to deliver more crucial supplies and reach a larger number of children in dire need. However, this progress is now in jeopardy following Israel’s decision to close Gaza’s crossings, a move announced by Netanyahu on Saturday. The Israeli government has conditioned the resumption of aid on the unconditional release of all Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.

The first phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, officially ended at midnight on Saturday/Sunday. Despite the agreement’s framework, Israel has refused to advance to the next phase, prolonging the suffering of Gaza’s population. Israeli media reports indicate that Netanyahu aims to extend the initial phase of the prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of as many Israeli captives as possible while avoiding commitments to military or humanitarian obligations, a stance widely seen as a concession to extremists within his government.

Meanwhile, Palestinian resistance factions reject this approach, insisting that Israel be held accountable for the terms outlined in the ceasefire agreement. They have urged mediators to push for immediate negotiations on the second phase, which includes a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.

With unwavering American support, Israel’s assault on Gaza from 7 October 2023 to 19 January 2025 has resulted in over 160,000 Palestinian casualties, the majority being women and children, while more than 14,000 remain missing. The ceasefire agreement, brokered with mediation from Egypt and Qatar and backed by the United States, was structured into three phases, each lasting 42 days. However, progress towards the second phase has been obstructed, leaving millions in Gaza trapped in a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Since mid-2006, Israel has transformed Gaza into the world’s largest open-air prison, imposing a suffocating blockade that has driven nearly two million Palestinians into extreme hardship. The deliberate restrictions on food, water, and medical supplies have exacerbated an already dire situation, with no immediate relief in sight.