Aid agencies report significant challenges in delivering assistance to Gaza due to delays and restrictions imposed by Israel. In the past week, the World Food Programme (WFP) had half of its 138 requests to collect aid denied, with approved convoys often facing delays of up to 46 hours. Israel justifies these restrictions by claiming they prevent Hamas from seizing the supplies, though a U.S. analysis found no systemic theft over the past 20 months.
Currently, WFP has 300 trucks of aid awaiting distribution in Gaza, while UNRWA has around 6,000 trucks stationed in Jordan and Egypt. UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, criticized Israel’s limited aid airdrops as ineffective and said humanitarian agencies need the ability to operate without bureaucratic hurdles.
Delays in aid convoys have led to desperate crowds gathering along delivery routes, increasing the risk of ambushes against aid trucks. This situation has resulted in serious violence, including incidents where Israeli troops have fired on crowds, leading to over 1,000 deaths as reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes during distributions, with individuals like Um Saeed Al-Reefi recounting attacks involving pepper spray and bullets as they tried to obtain aid. The healthcare situation is deteriorating, with a reported 16 casualties near Gaza City while waiting for assistance.
While aid distribution has previously been more consistent and secure, recent months of violence have severely hampered operations, with the local police force weakened and public desperation rising. The UN emphasizes the urgent need for safe and reliable access to deliver humanitarian aid effectively.
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