UN rejects Israel's plans for aid distribution: Report

The UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) rejected Israel's plan for humanitarian aid distribution in Gaza, reported Haaretz on Thursday.

In a document that was addressed to members of the UN Security Council and seen by Haaretz, Ocha said the proposed aid distribution method "appears practically unfeasible, is incompatible with humanitarian principles and will create serious insecurity risks, all while failing to meet Israel's obligations under international law."

Ocha also said that Israel's plan would lead to the UN "implementing a policy of counting calories to ensure bare minimum survival for the Gazan population" and that "UN involvement would legitimize a military tactic that would have devastating consequences on the population and would damage the organization's reputation in Gaza and the region."

Israel's proposed plan apparently would incorporate five hubs, which the Israeli military would have sight of and would have control over. In addition, text notifications would be sent to Palestinians to collect rations at these hubs once or twice a month, and they would have to undergo a security screening when they got there. No other aid organisation would be allowed to offer meal kitchens.