UNITED NATIONS, United States: The United Nations said on Tuesday it was busy preparing to expand humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip under a potential ceasefire but uncertainty around border access and security in the enclave remain obstacles.
Negotiators in Qatar are hammering out final details of a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in Gaza, with mediators and the warring sides all describing a deal as closer than ever. A truce would include a significant increase of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
The UN humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, met with Israeli and Palestinian ministers in recent days and spoke with the Egyptian foreign minister on Tuesday about UN engagement in a ceasefire, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said.
“The UN system as a whole is in intense planning and preparation for when a ceasefire comes into play, and how we can increase the aid,” Dujarric said.
Among the unknowns are what border crossings would be open into Gaza under a truce and how secure the enclave would be for aid distribution since many shipments have been targeted by armed gangs and looters during the conflict.
“Obviously, things that will continue to be challenging because we don’t have answers to all those questions,” Dujarric said.
The UN has complained of aid obstacles in Gaza throughout the 15-month-old war. The UN says Israel and lawlessness in the enclave have impeded the entry and distribution of aid in the war zone.

’DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE’
Global food security experts warned in November there is a “strong likelihood that famine is imminent” in northern Gaza. More than 46,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, according to Palestinian health officials.
Israel has said the quantity of aid delivered to Gaza — which it puts at more than a million tons over the past year — has been adequate. But it accuses Hamas of hijacking the assistance before it reaches Palestinians in need. Hamas has denied the allegations and blamed Israel for shortages.
The fate of the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA — which the UN says is the backbone of aid operations in Gaza — is also unclear as a law banning its operation on Israeli land and contact with Israeli authorities is due to take effect later this month.
Dujarric said the UN and partner organizations are “doing everything possible” to reach Palestinians in need with extremely limited resources.
“However, ongoing hostilities and violent armed looting as well as systematic access restrictions continue to severely constrain our efforts,” he said. “Road damage, unexploded ordinances, fuel shortages and a lack of adequate telecommunications equipment are also hampering our work.”
“It is imperative that vital aid and commercial goods can enter Gaza through all available border crossings without delay, at a scale needed,” he said.
Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took some 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel has laid much of Gaza to waste, and the territory’s prewar population of 2.3 million people has been displaced multiple times, humanitarian agencies say.

DUBAI: The Desert Vipers cruised to a six-wicket victory over the Gulf Giants in a low-scoring contest at the Dubai International Stadium on Tuesday.

It was the second consecutive win in DP World ILT20 this season for the Vipers, who won with an unbeaten 42-run knock from all-rounder Sam Curran anchoring the chase.

Sherfane Rutherford added fireworks with 40 runs off just 18 balls, ensuring the Vipers reached their target of 120 in 17.4 overs.

The Vipers bowling unit set the tone early, as captain Lockie Ferguson and Mohammad Amir dismantled the Giants’ batting order.

Ferguson claimed three wickets, while Amir picked up two, restricting the Giants to 119/9 in 20 overs. Gulf Giants skipper James Vince fought valiantly, scoring an unbeaten 76 runs off 62 balls, but lacked support as wickets fell at regular intervals.

The Gulf Giants struggled after losing early wickets. Mohammad Amir trapped Adam Lyth LBW in the first over, and Lockie Ferguson soon removed Rehan Khan and Shimron Hetmyer. By the sixth over, the Giants were reeling at 32/3.

Wanindu Hasaranga bowled Ollie Robinson for a duck, while Amir and Ferguson continued to dominate, leaving the Giants at 50/6.

Vince, however, provided a measure of stability, rotating the strike and finding late boundaries. Aayan Afzal Khan (15 off 18) briefly supported him in a 36-run stand, but Khan's dismissal by Luke Wood in the 15th over dashed hopes of a competitive total. Vince reached his half-century off 47 balls, adding crucial runs in the final overs to give his side a fighting chance.

Chasing 120, the Vipers faced early setbacks as Mark Adair dismissed Fakhar Zaman and Dan Lawrence in the second over. Curran and Alex Hales then steadied the innings, adding 49 runs for the third wicket. Curran broke free in the seventh over, smashing a six and a four off Daniel Worrall. Hales fell for 20 runs off 30 balls, and Azam Khan departed for just seven, leaving the Vipers at 66/4 in 12.2 overs.

From there, Curran and Rutherford took control, with Rutherford striking two sixes and a four in the 18th over to seal the win. Curran remained unbeaten on 42 from 43 balls, including four fours and a six.

“It is nice to be here for the start of the tournament and it is nice to win on a tricky pitch,” said Curran, who was named Player of the Match. “It was almost a bit of a Test match out there, trying to trust your defence. I knew they are going to go for their best seam bowlers at the top, so I had to adjust accordingly.”

Reflecting on the defeat, Gulf Giants skipper Vince said: “It was a tough gig batting first; there seemed to be a bit more moisture in the wicket than the last game. 120 is always going to be tough to defend. We needed a bit of luck going our way on a wicket like that. If we had held onto our chances, it could have been a bit tricky for them.”