Israel’s unprecedented control over aid to Gaza has faced sharp criticism amid growing international demands to allow humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Just recently, 24 different foreign ministers pressured Israel to not block every international NGO aid shipment into the besieged territory. This request comes as the situation is getting increasingly dire. The United Nations has recently cautioned against a rise in acute malnutrition amongst children and a rise in civilian deaths.
First, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Israel and the United States are supporting the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), headed up by Hamas, as the principal food supplier. According to UN reports, hundreds of Palestinians have died attempting to access food from GHF locations. This heartbreaking reality illustrates how badly we need to listen to their overwhelming needs. In the face of these outrageous numbers, Israel continues to insist that Gaza is not being starved.
“There are no signs of a widespread malnutrition phenomenon,” – Israeli officials
The numbers paint a very different picture. In the past six months since the start of the conflict, at least 227 people, including 103 children, are reported to have died from malnutrition in Gaza. In addition, the UN’s World Food Programme has declared more than 300,000 children to be at extreme risk from acute malnutrition.
In the middle of these calls for action, five nations successfully airdropped 97 emergency aid packages into Gaza, delivering critical supplies to its residents. As Israel’s military response intensifies, reports of violence show that things only seem to be getting worse. This is the broad context in which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently conducted the strike against armed Hamas members that they claim pretended to be aid workers. The convoy was allegedly operating in vehicles displaying the World Central Kitchen (WCK) logo.
This includes IDF claims that the operation killed “five armed terrorists.” Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) was alerted to this incident and reached out to WCK. WCK categorically denies that this vehicle is in any way tied to their operations.
“We strongly condemn anyone posing as World Central Kitchen or other humanitarians, as this endangers civilians and aid workers. The safety and security of our teams are our top priority,” – WCK
Violence and starvation in Gaza are at unspeakable levels. In such circumstances, Israel’s extensive control over the flow of humanitarian aid has come under increased scrutiny by the international community. In April, the G7 foreign ministers voiced shock at the deepening crisis, asserting that “famine is happening in front of our eyes.” In their letter, they highlighted the need to avoid the use of lethal force at distribution sites. Civilians, humanitarians, and medical workers must be protected.
In addition to these developments, a Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo to discuss negotiations regarding the humanitarian situation and the status of hostages. US special envoy Steve Witkoff held meetings with Qatari officials. They negotiated an overall agreement to release all remaining hostages and provide urgent humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza.
So has this devastating crisis, foreign government-ordered humanitarian organizations and advocates around the world. As conditions worsen and calls for action intensify, the need for a collaborative approach to provide relief to those suffering in Gaza becomes increasingly critical.
