Israel Tightens Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Aid organizations are raising alarms over new restrictions imposed by Israel that they claim hinder efforts to provide essential food and supplies to civilians in Gaza. With reports of worsening hunger following nearly 22 months of conflict, humanitarian groups, including Israeli organizations that facilitate aid, argue that these bureaucratic obstacles exacerbate an already dire situation.

One significant challenge is a recent mandate requiring humanitarian organizations to submit a detailed list of all Palestinian staff members. According to Israeli officials, this request aims to vet personnel for potential links to militant groups. Additionally, visas for humanitarian staff can be denied if senior officials from these organizations have publicly supported boycotts against Israel.

The logistics of supplying Gaza are further complicated by the fact that all goods must enter through Israel after arriving from locations such as Jordan, Ashdod port, or the West Bank. This process necessitates complex coordination with Israeli authorities and requires customs approval. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which previously served as a primary supply route, was closed last year following Israeli control over the border area.

International Calls for Action

In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, numerous governments have issued urgent appeals for action. The European Union, along with officials from Britain and Japan, has called for immediate measures to alleviate suffering in Gaza. A joint statement from the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and foreign ministers from 24 countries, including Canada and Australia, declared, “The humanitarian suffering in Gaza has reached unimaginable levels. Famine is unfolding before our eyes.”

The statement emphasized the need for Israel to authorize all international NGO aid shipments and allow essential humanitarian actors to operate freely. Seventeen EU countries, including Ireland, endorsed this call to action, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

The United Nations’ humanitarian agency has indicated that the amount of aid entering Gaza remains “far below the minimum required to meet people’s immense needs.” This lack of support comes as the UN and food security experts warn that rates of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza have reached their highest levels since the conflict began.

Casualties and Health Concerns

Recent reports from Gaza’s health ministry indicate a grim toll, with eight additional deaths attributed to starvation and malnutrition within a 24-hour period. This raises the total number of deaths to 235, including 106 children, since the onset of the conflict. The health ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals and is considered one of the most reliable sources for information on war casualties.

An investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has suggested that claims of famine in Gaza, amplified by Hamas, may not accurately represent the overall health situation. The IDF’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat) pointed out discrepancies between reported malnutrition deaths by the Hamas-run health ministry and documented cases in media outlets. Cogat stated that many victims had pre-existing medical conditions that were exacerbated by the conflict, rather than solely by lack of nutrition.

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging swift action to prevent further deterioration of living conditions in Gaza.