United Nations, May 16 (RHC)-- At the United Nations, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher called on world leaders to “prevent genocide” in Gaza.  He slammed Israel’s 10-week blockade, which has resulted in more than half a million Palestinians facing starvation in Gaza.

Fletcher: “We have lifesaving supplies ready now at the borders.  We can save hundreds of thousands of survivors.  We have rigorous mechanisms to ensure our aid gets to civilians and not to Hamas.  But Israel denies us access, placing the objective of depopulating Gaza before the lives of civilians.”

Fletcher also denounced a U.S.-backed Israeli plan to have private security contractors -- U.S. military veterans and mercenaries -- run aid operations in Gaza.