More than 100 humanitarian organizations have joined forces in a letter appealing to Israel to cease what they describe as the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as the situation grows increasingly dire with reports of starvation. Prominent groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), have disclosed that they are often told that they lack authorization to deliver essential supplies unless they adhere to stringent Israeli regulations instituted in March.
The letter warns that groups could face exclusion if they are accused of "delegitimising" Israel or failing to disclose detailed information about their Palestinian personnel. Despite Israel's denial of any aid restrictions, it maintains that these rules are necessary to ensure that aid goes directly to the people, not Hamas.
Since March, many major international non-governmental organizations have reportedly been unable to facilitate a single truck of lifesaving aid into Gaza. The letter indicates that more than 60 requests for humanitarian supplies were denied in July. This blockade has left medical facilities without critical supplies, resulting in dire consequences for vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly.
“There is a dire need for us to get lifesaving supplies through,” said Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), noting that they have over $7 million worth of essential goods waiting to be delivered but stalled in Ashdod. Israel claims delays are caused by groups not meeting security requirements meant to obstruct Hamas’s involvement in aid distribution.
According to the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid, approximately 300 trucks have been entering Gaza daily from about 20 organizations that have complied with the new registration process. However, the United Nations reports that Gaza requires 600 trucks worth of supplies each day to adequately address current needs.
The updated guidelines establish new frameworks for NGOs seeking to maintain operational status under Israeli law and outline conditions under which registration can be rescinded. Registration is particularly vulnerable to rejection if authorities perceive a group as undermining Israel's democratic character.
"Unfortunately, many aid organizations serve as a cover for hostile and sometimes violent activity," remarked Israel’s Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli. He assured that organizations without ties to hostility or the boycott movement would be allowed to operate freely.
Oxfam’s Policy Lead, Bushra Khalidi, emphasized that Israel has blocked more than $2.5 million in goods destined for Gaza, stressing that the new registration requirements could force NGOs to compromise their independence and capacity to advocate for humanitarian issues.
As Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza City, concerns mount over the impending humanitarian disaster. While the Israeli government pledges to provide humanitarian aid to civilians outside conflict zones, the details surrounding such provisions and the involvement of the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) remain vague.
With allegations that Hamas has been misappropriating aid, conflicting statements about the safety of the GHF continue. The UN recently reported significant civilian casualties near GHF-affiliated sites, which the GHF has contested.
In the context of escalating violence, Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa of MSF criticized the “militarised food distribution scheme” as having effectively weaponized starvation. Chris Lockyear, MSF's secretary-general, stated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is critical, teetering on the edge of collapse. The deterioration of conditions is further exacerbated by the ongoing conflict, which has led to the deaths of approximately 62,000 Palestinians according to Hamas-run health sources.
