For the 16th week in a row, Israel has prevented fuel shipments from reaching Gaza, drawing sharp warnings from the United Nations about the devastating impact on the enclave’s already shattered infrastructure.

UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed during a press briefing that Israel’s ongoing blockade continues to cripple critical services in the Strip. While a small reserve of fuel stored at the Tahrir Station in Rafah was distributed last week, it was far from sufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s two million residents.

“The shortage is severely restricting operations,” Dujarric said, noting that even essential facilities like water desalination plants and sewage stations are now operating at minimal capacity.

With hospitals barely functioning, waste piling up in streets, and clean water becoming increasingly scarce, the absence of fuel is worsening what humanitarian agencies describe as one of the most dire crises of our time. In Gaza today, the silence of generators often signals more than darkness, it marks the slow collapse of life itself.