In the past two weeks, there has been a significant decrease in the flow of aid entering Gaza from Egypt, and a corresponding increase in security challenges hindering the distribution of the available supplies, as per data from the United Nations and officials.
According to daily figures, the supply of aid to Hamas-ruled Gaza has sharply declined since February 9, exacerbating the crisis of hunger faced by the predominantly displaced population of 2.3 million.
Before the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, Gaza relied on 500 trucks of supplies entering daily. Even during intense fighting in January, around 200 aid trucks managed to pass through on most days. However, UN figures reveal a stark contrast from February 9 to 20, with the daily average plummeting to just 57 trucks. On seven of those 12 days, 20 or fewer trucks reached Gaza, with only four trucks making it through on February 17.
Deliveries through the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza have nearly ceased entirely. While more trucks have occasionally arrived through Israel’s Kerem Shalom crossing, disruptions have been frequent, attributed to the actions of relatives of Israeli hostages and protesters aiming to impede deliveries. The Kerem Shalom crossing was closed between February 8-10 and February 15-17.
Israel, responsible for checking all trucks entering Gaza from both crossings, has shifted blame to the United Nations for the decline in deliveries. Israeli officials assert readiness to expedite the clearance of aid, with Colonel Moshe Tetro, Head of Israel’s Coordination and Liaison Administration for Gaza, expressing willingness to facilitate the entry of tens or hundreds of trucks daily, placing the bottleneck outside Israel’s control.
The United Nations, however, cites increasing difficulty in aid distribution within Gaza due to the collapse of security within the Strip. Eri Kaneko, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian affairs office, emphasized the absence of an enabling environment for humanitarian operations, with aid accumulating at crossing points due to safety concerns and a breakdown of law and order.
The Hamas-run Palestinian police force has ceased providing escorts for aid convoys following the deaths of at least eight officers, including Hamas operatives, in Israeli strikes. This exacerbates the challenges faced by humanitarian agencies, who continue to operate amidst significant risks to sustain essential deliveries.
Desperation among Gaza residents has led to instances of aid seizure from convoys, with reports of gunmen, believed to be members of Hamas, intercepting trucks delivering humanitarian aid from Egypt.
Israel’s longstanding claim that Hamas hoards supplies to the detriment of civilians is reiterated. Jonathan Fowler, a UNRWA spokesperson, acknowledges instances of food being taken directly from convoys due to extreme desperation, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by Gaza’s population.
The UN World Food Program announced a pause in limited deliveries to northern Gaza, citing “complete chaos and violence due to the collapse of civil order.” This decision follows incidents of crowds attempting to board trucks, gunfire in Gaza City, the seizure of flour, and the assault of a truck driver, underscoring the precariousness of aid operations in the region.
UNRWA notes the last successful aid delivery to northern Gaza occurred on January 23, underscoring the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis gripping the region.