UN aid chief: Gaza war 'beyond imagination' and isn't 'half over'

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths said the ongoing Israel war on Gaza is far from over and could worsen in the coming weeks.

“The war ain’t over yet, it ain’t half over,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times published on Monday.

Known for his expertise in mediation and humanitarianism, Griffiths described the situation in Gaza as the "worst ever" humanitarian crisis he has witnessed. His comments came amid continued wrangling at the UN Security Council over a ceasefire in Gaza, with the US continually blocking attempts to pass a resolution calling for one.

Israel has demanded the resignation of UN Secretary-General António Guterres following his remarks on the Hamas attacks.  The UN aid coordinator in Jerusalem, Lynn Hastings, saw her visa extension refused by Israel. Griffiths himself faced challenges visiting Israel after his remarks on CNN, where he described the situation in Gaza as “the worst ever”.

Explaining his statement, Griffiths said that unlike other global crises where people can flee, the inhabitants of Gaza are trapped. "No family can plan for their future," he said, adding that the crisis in Gaza is "beyond my imagination".

The human catastrophe is now also characterised by disease and hunger, which are causing an increasing number of deaths.

Griffiths also implied that the current official death toll - approaching 20,000- is a conservative undercount, drawing parallels to the Turkish earthquake in February, where the number of fatalities doubled after rubble was cleared.

Griffiths said that contrary to US assurances, he saw no evidence that Israel's war would be conducted with less violence in Khan Younis and the south of the Gaza. "We were promised this," he said, expressing disappointment.

According to Griffiths, the reality on the ground has been quite different, with an escalation rather than a reduction in the intensity of the conflict.

In response to the crisis, Griffiths had prepared a ten-point plan focused on greater Israeli restraint and the establishment of relief distribution hubs.

However, he later had to discard the plan, citing its impracticality in the current context. "I was a fool to even think that it was sensible," he said.

Before the war, approximately 500 trucks entered Gaza daily through various checkpoints. On Sunday, only about 100 trucks were able to cross through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt.