Daijiworld Media Network- Gaza
Gaza, Aug 14: In a strong joint statement released on Thursday, more than 100 international aid organisations have accused Israel of deliberately obstructing life-saving relief from entering Gaza, leaving tons of essential supplies stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt even as the besieged enclave faces famine.
The groups, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Oxfam, charged that Israel’s blockade, coupled with newly imposed restrictions, has prevented the delivery of food, medicine, water, and temporary shelters. Aid convoys have reportedly been stalled at Gaza’s borders for months, with most major NGOs unable to deliver even a single truck of relief materials since March 2.
According to the statement, Israeli authorities have been rejecting requests from dozens of organisations, claiming they are “not authorised to deliver aid” under new registration rules that require stringent “security” vetting. Even agencies that have been operational in Gaza for decades now find themselves blocked from entry.
As a result, hospitals are running out of basic medical supplies, and children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities are dying from hunger and preventable illnesses, the organisations warned. Oxfam policy lead Bushra Khalidi revealed that her organisation alone has $2.5 million worth of aid stuck outside Gaza due to Israeli restrictions.
MSF’s emergency coordinator in Gaza, Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, alleged that Israel’s “militarised food distribution” has turned starvation into a weapon of war, claiming that violence at distribution points has led to the deaths of at least 859 Palestinians — including women and children — since May.
The signatory organisations have called for immediate international pressure on Israel to end what they term the “weaponisation of aid,” remove bureaucratic barriers, and allow unconditional delivery of humanitarian relief.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli defended the registration policy, stating that approvals can be denied if a group’s activities “promote delegitimisation campaigns” against Israel.
The joint outcry comes as Israeli forces launch a fresh operation to take control of Gaza City, a move expected to displace over a million residents and draw renewed warnings from the United Nations and global leaders about the catastrophic humanitarian fallout in the war-ravaged territory.