The US and Israeli governments have accused Tom Fletcher, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, of “libel” after he claimed there were 10,000 aid trucks on the Gaza border ready to go. The claim sparked controversy as Israel disputed the number, saying only a small amount of aid had been picked up from the Gazan side over the past few days.
Fletcher had made similar claims last week, stating that if aid did not reach Gaza within 48 hours, 14,000 babies would die from severe acute malnutrition. However, the UN later retracted the statement, saying it was about saving an estimated 14,000 babies suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Gaza.
Israel has also accused the UN of trying to manipulate public opinion by hiding financial backers for new private aid organizations that will take over humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza. Fletcher called this plan “a fig leaf for further violence and displacement,” saying it would make starvation a bargaining chip.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-855578