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United Nations

UN Agencies Face Visa Denials in Gaza, Alarming International Community

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United Nations humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has expressed alarm at Israel's refusal to renew visas for the heads of at least three UN agencies in Gaza, citing their work in protecting Palestinian civilians in the war-torn territory. The UN agencies affected are the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the human rights agency OHCHR, and the agency supporting Palestinians in Gaza, UNRWA.

The situation in Gaza has been described as "beyond vocabulary" by Fletcher, with food running out and Palestinians seeking something to eat being shot. He accused Israel, the occupying power in Gaza, of failing in its obligation under the Geneva Conventions to provide for civilian needs. The UN humanitarian chief noted that the entry denials have been particularly severe, with 56% of the entries denied in 2025 being for emergency medical teams - frontline responders who save lives.

The situation has implications for the international community, with the UN calling for Israel to grant visas and "security clearances" for staff to continue their work. The tensions between the UN's advocacy mandate and delivering aid in Gaza have never been greater.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, has expressed concern over Israel's refusal to renew visas for the heads of at least three UN agencies in Gaza, including OCHA, OHCHR, and UNRWA.
  • The UN agencies are facing visa denials, alongside U.N. humanitarian partners, with 56% of the entries denied in 2025 being for emergency medical teams.
  • Israel has been accused of failing in its obligation under the Geneva Conventions to provide for civilian needs in Gaza.
  • The situation in Gaza has been described as "beyond vocabulary" by Fletcher, with food running out and Palestinians seeking something to eat being shot.
  • The UN is calling for Israel to grant visas and "security clearances" for staff to continue their work, highlighting the tension between the UN's advocacy mandate and delivering aid in Gaza.
  • Over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with more than half being women and children.
  • Ravina Shamdasani, chief spokesperson for the Geneva-based U.N. human rights body, has confirmed that the head of the office in the occupied Palestinian territories has been denied entry into Gaza.
  • Israel has accused a U.N.-backed commission probing abuses in Gaza and Human Rights Council's independent investigator Francesca Albanese of antisemitism.

Statistics:

  • 56% of the entries denied into Gaza in 2025 were for emergency medical teams - frontline responders who save lives.
  • 58,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
  • More than half of the Palestinians killed in the war were women and children.
  • Hundreds of aid workers have been killed in Gaza.
  • 250 Israelis were taken hostage in the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack.

Sources:

  • Edith M. Lederer, AP writer
  • Tom Fletcher, UN Humanitarian Chief
  • Stephane Dujarric, UN Spokesman
  • Reut Shapir Ben-Naftaly, Israel's U.N. Mission
  • Jamey Keaten, AP writer
  • Ravina Shamdasani, Chief Spokesperson for Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Body

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