The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has recently warned of the disastrous consequences of the blockade imposed by Israel for several months on the Gaza Strip, a measure compounded by tactical armed incursions. A UN representative has observed that the blockade is likely to cause irreparable damage to the local economy, making the populace even more dependent on foreign aid, adding that extremely low food reserves, price increases, growing unemployment and loss of revenue are already taking a heavy toll. The International Committee of the Red Cross and a large number of other international organisations are also levelling criticism at the Israel authorities for their blockade of the Palestinian people.

Does the Council intend to take specific measures to induce the Israeli authorities to suspend their ‘reprisals’ which are paralysing the Gaza Strip and West Bank with disastrous consequences for all Palestinians living in these areas?