As Gaza descends further into starvation, the United Nations is sounding the alarm over increasing Israeli restrictions on humanitarian access. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has condemned Israel’s refusal to renew the visa of its head in the occupied Palestinian territory, a move seen as part of a wider campaign to silence criticism and block aid.

Jonathan Whittall, OCHA’s outgoing chief, had recently spoken out against the deliberate starvation of civilians in Gaza. His expulsion, following a series of similar acts against UN staff, reflects what OCHA officials describe as a deepening effort to obstruct their mission. “The threats aimed at limiting our access to the civilians we serve are increasing,” said Ilona Goetyn, head of public information at OCHA’s Jerusalem office. She confirmed that even Palestinian staff are being barred from accessing East Jerusalem, stifling critical humanitarian coordination.

The Israeli government accuses Whittall of bias and defamation, a claim widely rejected by rights advocates who say such accusations are routinely used to deflect attention from the catastrophic conditions in Gaza. Aid agencies have warned that Israel’s actions not only violate international law but are actively contributing to famine.

Since October 2023, more than 53,000 Palestinians have been killed and tens of thousands more wounded. A staggering number of those targeted were simply trying to secure food. UN staff now face the impossible task of delivering aid without the freedom to move or speak freely. And yet, amid these worsening constraints, OCHA continues to call on the world not to look away from the manufactured hunger devastating Gaza.