Humanitarian Crisis Deepens as Over 100 Organizations Urge Israel to Cease Weaponizing Aid to Gaza

A coalition of over 100 NGOs, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières, has penned a letter demanding Israel halt its restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing severe starvation and health emergencies. As Israel maintains that its regulations serve national interests, organizations reveal their inability to deliver essential supplies, risking the lives of vulnerable populations.

More than 100 humanitarian organizations are demanding that Israel put an end to its "weaponisation of aid" in Gaza, as the region grapples with deepening starvation and health crises. The coalition, which includes prominent groups such as Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), claims that they are increasingly encountering stringent regulations imposed by Israeli authorities that hinder their ability to provide essential aid.

The letter highlights a growing trend where aid organizations have been told they aren’t authorized to deliver assistance unless they fully comply with Israeli mandates, which include stringent monitoring and reporting of their operations. They also face the prospect of being banned for "delegitimizing" the state of Israel or for not disclosing detailed information about their Palestinian staff.

Israel denies restricting aid, asserting that the new rules introduced in March are designed to ensure that humanitarian efforts align with its "national interests." However, the criticized regulations have reportedly left major NGOs unable to send even one truck of lifesaving supplies to Gaza since early March, with over 60 requests denied in July alone. This lack of aid has left hospitals unable to treat patients and vulnerable communities facing starvation and preventable diseases.

Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), pointed out that his organization is sitting on over $7 million worth of essential supplies ready for delivery, yet is still blocked just kilometers away in Ashdod. The guidelines requiring aid groups to register under these controversial terms could affect their operational independence and willingness to advocate for Gaza's population.

Israeli officials justify their restrictions by claiming that some NGOs disguise violent agendas as humanitarian work, and that only those without such connections may operate freely. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, with the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza exacerbating the crisis. Recent reports indicate the deaths of numerous Palestinians from starvation, raising alarm about the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe in the blockaded territory.

As calls for action grow from the international community, the statement from MSF classifying the situation as a "militarised food distribution scheme" raises uncomfortable questions about the effectiveness and integrity of the current aid system in Gaza.