Meeting speaker cites more than 1,000 Palestinians killed seeking food, urges immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access

Speaker 1, a meeting participant, said the United Nations has recorded more than 1,000 Palestinians killed trying to access food since May 27 and urged an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.

The speaker said children have expressed a desire to go to heaven because “at least they say there is food there,” and warned the humanitarian toll is severe. “Since May 27, United Nations has recorded over 1,000 Palestinians killed trying to access food,” the speaker said. “I repeat, 1,000 people killed, not in combat, but in desperation.”

The speaker emphasized that condemnation of earlier violence does not justify the current level of destruction. “From the beginning, I have repeatedly condemned the horrific 7 October terror attacks by Hamas,” the speaker said, “but nothing can justify the explosion of death and destruction since. The scale and scope is beyond anything we have seen in recent times.”

The speaker said the United Nations is prepared to expand humanitarian operations if a ceasefire allows safe access, adding that plans are finalized to “dramatically scale up humanitarian operations across the Gaza Strip” during a pause in fighting. “We will continue to speak out at every opportunity, but words don't feed hungry children,” the speaker said.

No formal votes or actions were recorded on this item during the meeting. The remarks were presented as a call for international action and did not include specific policy proposals or commitments from the meeting body.