Israel blocking aid from Gaza is creating ‘chaos and death', say 111 humanitarian groups
A letter signed by 111 agencies including Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam International, and Amnesty International says that the Israeli government is blocking humanitarian organizations from effectively distributing life-saving aid.
'Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organisations blocked from accessing or delivering them,' the agencies wrote. 'The Government of Israel's restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death.'
The letter comes as attention towards starvation in Gaza and Israeli killing of civilians continues to grow, but the situation on the ground remains largely the same. UN secretary general, António Guterres, described Gaza as a 'horror show' when speaking to the UN Security council.
'Malnourishment is soaring and starvation is knocking on every door in Gaza,' Guterres said. 'And now we are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles. That system is being denied the conditions to function. Denied the space to deliver. Denied the safety to save lives.'
Aid in Israel is now distributed by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), whose sites have been described as 'death traps' by UN officials. Previous Guardian reporting chronicled the dangers faced by Palestinians seeking aid from GHF sites.
UN officials report that the Israeli military has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to reach food distribution sites since the end of May. Israeli forces killed at least 32 people on Saturday morning that were seeking aid.
Israel has killed at least 72 Palestinians in the last 24 hours according to the Gaza health ministry. Israel also attacked World Health Organization facilities in Deir al-Bahah, and canceled the visa of the most senior UN aid official in Gaza.
On 21 July, 28 countries including the UK and other Israeli allies, issued a statement calling for an end to the war in Gaza and labeling the Israeli government's 'denial of essential humanitarian assistance' as 'unacceptable'. The statement also spoke against Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, as well as Israeli plans to move Palestinians into a 'humanitarian city'.
The statement, while strongly worded, did not threaten sanctions or mention any concrete policy steps that would be taken against the Israeli government if it does not change course.
Today's letter from the humanitarian organizations calls for direct action.
'Piecemeal arrangements and symbolic gestures, like airdrops or flawed aid deals, serve as a smokescreen for inaction. They cannot replace states' legal and moral obligations to protect Palestinian civilians and ensure meaningful access at scale,' the letter says. 'States can and must save lives before there are none left to save.'
Israel's military said that it 'views the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza as a matter of utmost importance', and works to facilitate its entry in coordination with the international community.
It has denied accusations it is preventing aid from reaching Gaza and has accused Palestinian group Hamas of stealing food, an allegation Hamas denies.
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