Article Text:
More than 100 humanitarian organizations have united in a formal appeal to Israel, demanding an end to what they describe as the "weaponisation of aid" in Gaza, amid a worsening starvation crisis. Prominent groups such as Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) report that they have been increasingly denied permission to distribute aid under new, stringent Israeli regulations enacted in March.
The organizations assert that they must now comply with stricter rules that threaten to ban them if they are seen as undermining Israel or fail to provide exhaustive details about their Palestinian staff. Despite Israeli officials rejecting claims of restricted aid, they maintain that these regulations are vital for ensuring that assistance reaches individuals rather than Hamas.
The coalition's letter details that since March, major international non-governmental organizations have been unable to deliver any aid to Gaza, with over 60 requests denied in July alone. They express grave concerns that this disruption has resulted in hospitals operating without essential medical supplies and vulnerable populations, including children and disabled individuals, succumbing to hunger and preventable diseases.
Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), noted that over $7 million worth of crucial supplies, including 744 tons of rice, remain stranded in Ashdod, just a short distance away from Gaza. The Israeli government responded by stating that delays in aid delivery arise only when organizations fail to meet established security protocols aimed at eliminating Hamas's involvement in aid.
According to Cogat, the military unit overseeing aid, nearly 20 organizations that have successfully registered continue to transport aid into Gaza, with around 300 trucks delivering supplies each day. However, the UN indicates that approximately 600 trucks are necessary daily to alleviate the dire conditions.
The guidelines imposed in March have dramatically altered the registration process for aid groups operating in Israel, including criteria that allow officials to deny applications based on perceived threats to Israel’s democratic character or attempts to delegitimize the nation.
Israel's Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli, stated that while it is essential to filter out organizations that may link to hostility, those without ties to violent activities would be granted operational permission. Meanwhile, Oxfam's Bushra Khalidi highlighted that Israel has already blocked over $2.5 million worth of goods destined for Gaza, emphasizing the potential infringement on NGOs' operational independence.
As Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza City, claiming to offer aid to civilians outside combat zones, it remains ambiguous whether this assistance will be facilitated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the US and Israel.
Humanitarian sources continuously warn that the system to regulate aid distribution is leading to a coercive control of resources, with MSF's emergency coordinator for Gaza, Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, suggesting it has transformed essential food aid into a weapon of starvation. Chris Lockyear, MSF’s secretary-general, decried GHF, branding it as a "death trap" for those in dire need. As the conflict rages on, the toll on the population grows, with recent statistics suggesting a staggering number of Palestinian casualties due to military actions, starvation, and malnutrition crises.
More than 100 humanitarian organizations have united in a formal appeal to Israel, demanding an end to what they describe as the "weaponisation of aid" in Gaza, amid a worsening starvation crisis. Prominent groups such as Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) report that they have been increasingly denied permission to distribute aid under new, stringent Israeli regulations enacted in March.
The organizations assert that they must now comply with stricter rules that threaten to ban them if they are seen as undermining Israel or fail to provide exhaustive details about their Palestinian staff. Despite Israeli officials rejecting claims of restricted aid, they maintain that these regulations are vital for ensuring that assistance reaches individuals rather than Hamas.
The coalition's letter details that since March, major international non-governmental organizations have been unable to deliver any aid to Gaza, with over 60 requests denied in July alone. They express grave concerns that this disruption has resulted in hospitals operating without essential medical supplies and vulnerable populations, including children and disabled individuals, succumbing to hunger and preventable diseases.
Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), noted that over $7 million worth of crucial supplies, including 744 tons of rice, remain stranded in Ashdod, just a short distance away from Gaza. The Israeli government responded by stating that delays in aid delivery arise only when organizations fail to meet established security protocols aimed at eliminating Hamas's involvement in aid.
According to Cogat, the military unit overseeing aid, nearly 20 organizations that have successfully registered continue to transport aid into Gaza, with around 300 trucks delivering supplies each day. However, the UN indicates that approximately 600 trucks are necessary daily to alleviate the dire conditions.
The guidelines imposed in March have dramatically altered the registration process for aid groups operating in Israel, including criteria that allow officials to deny applications based on perceived threats to Israel’s democratic character or attempts to delegitimize the nation.
Israel's Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli, stated that while it is essential to filter out organizations that may link to hostility, those without ties to violent activities would be granted operational permission. Meanwhile, Oxfam's Bushra Khalidi highlighted that Israel has already blocked over $2.5 million worth of goods destined for Gaza, emphasizing the potential infringement on NGOs' operational independence.
As Israel intensifies its military operations in Gaza City, claiming to offer aid to civilians outside combat zones, it remains ambiguous whether this assistance will be facilitated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), supported by the US and Israel.
Humanitarian sources continuously warn that the system to regulate aid distribution is leading to a coercive control of resources, with MSF's emergency coordinator for Gaza, Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, suggesting it has transformed essential food aid into a weapon of starvation. Chris Lockyear, MSF’s secretary-general, decried GHF, branding it as a "death trap" for those in dire need. As the conflict rages on, the toll on the population grows, with recent statistics suggesting a staggering number of Palestinian casualties due to military actions, starvation, and malnutrition crises.
