Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Aid Blockades Intensify Amid Conflict

Charities assert that Israeli rules have severely hindered aid deliveries to Gaza, with claims of "weaponisation of aid" as starvation escalates. Despite denials from Israeli authorities, NGOs report widespread refusal of their requests to deliver essential supplies.

More than 100 humanitarian organizations, including well-known charities like Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have come together to voice their grave concerns over Israel's new regulations, which they claim are obstructing critical aid from reaching the beleaguered population of Gaza. This joint letter highlights the dire situation as "starvation deepens" in the territory.

The organizations state they have increasingly encountered barriers, with many being told they lack authorization to deliver humanitarian assistance unless they adhere to the stringent Israeli regulations introduced earlier this year. The new regulations threaten to ban organizations that "delegitimize" Israel or provide insufficient details about their Palestinian staff, further complicating aid efforts.

In stark contrast, Israeli officials dispute the existence of any aid restrictions, asserting that the regulations are designed to ensure that assistance benefits the civilian population rather than being appropriated by Hamas militants. Since the rules came into effect on March 2, most international NGOs reportedly have not delivered any shipments of life-saving supplies, with over 60 requests being denied just within the month of July.

This blockade leaves vulnerable populations—including children, seniors, and those with disabilities—facing severe health risks due to shortages in basic medical supplies and food. Anera's CEO, Sean Carroll, highlighted that the organization has more than $7 million of essential supplies waiting to enter Gaza, including a substantial amount of rice for millions of meals—paralyzed due to these restrictions.

Israeli authorities maintain that any delays in aid delivery stem from NGOs failing to meet security requirements aimed at preventing Hamas misappropriation of aid resources. According to the Israeli military body responsible for aid logistics, approximately 20 NGOs have met the necessary registration criteria and are currently supplying aid, with around 300 trucks operating daily—though the United Nations estimates that at least 600 trucks are needed to adequately meet Gaza's demands.

The revised guidelines necessitate NGOs to register under stringent conditions that allow for their applications to be rejected or status revoked if Israeli officials interpret their actions as undermining Israel's legitimacy. Israel's Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli, remarked that some aid organizations disguise hostile activities and only those demonstrating no ties to anti-Israel movements will be permitted to function.

Critics, including Oxfam's Policy Lead, Bushra Khalidi, warn that Israel's registration process could compromise organizations' independence and their ability to advocate for the people in Gaza. These developments coincide with a significant escalation in Israeli military operations in Gaza, which they assert are strategically aimed at securing civilian areas while also targeting Hamas.

As the humanitarian situation deteriorates and military actions intensify, the plight of Gaza remains critical. The warning from various NGOs underlines a pressing need for immediate attention, demonstrating that the escalation of hostilities, compounded by regulatory challenges to aid distribution, could have catastrophic impacts on civilian life.