Restrictions on humanitarian aid are one of the most prominent crises faced by Gazans during the current war. Assistance, which is supposed to be a lifeline for civilians, is systematically obstructed at multiple levels. Restrictions on humanitarian assistance in Gaza are not just an obstacle, but a systematic tool of pressure used in the context of war, depriving civilians of their most basic rights to food, medicine and water.
Challenges to humanitarian access to Gaza
1. Restrictions on crossings
Gaza’s border crossings play a vital role in the lives of civilians, as they are used to bring in food, medicine and fuel, and to evacuate the sick and wounded. However, most of these crossings are directly controlled by Israel, and the crossings are often closed frequently during military operations, resulting in the suspension of any humanitarian aid, and even when opened, only limited numbers of trucks are allowed in daily, covering only a small portion of the basic needs of more than two million people in the Strip.
In addition, there are strict restrictions on permitted items, including fuel needed to operate hospitals and water stations, advanced medical devices, and construction materials for reconstruction. Trucks are also subject to lengthy and complicated inspection procedures, and parts of the cargo are often refused entry. These restrictions lead to severe humanitarian crises, with inadequate and delayed deliveries of essential items, exacerbating malnutrition, shortages of medicines and disruption of basic medical services. Therefore, these restrictions are considered a pressure tool that stifles civilians.
2. Constant shelling and insecurity
The ongoing bombardment is one of the biggest challenges impeding humanitarian access, directly affecting the lives of civilians and the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip. Since the beginning of the aggression, large areas of Gaza have been subjected to intensive aerial and artillery bombardment, targeting residential neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and main roads, killing and injuring thousands of civilians, and destroying homes and critical infrastructure.
This constant bombardment makes the movement of aid trucks dangerous, as it documented incidents of targeting aid convoys, either directly or indirectly, killing drivers and aid workers. In addition, they often have to wait or stop in areas vulnerable to shelling, delaying aid deliveries and further damaging sensitive items, such as medicines and fresh food.
Read more about Military Escalation in Gaza
3. Targeting civilians while trying to obtain humanitarian assistance
Targeting civilians while trying to obtain humanitarian aid is one of the crimes of the occupation against the Palestinian people in Gaza, where they are targeted by bullets while going to get aid. While the distribution of food is supposed to be a safe haven for starving civilians, in Gaza it has become a bloody scene of deliberate massacres targeting innocent people seeking a bite to eat.
Read more about Massacres at food distribution points in Gaza
Impact of humanitarian restrictions on the humanitarian situation in Gaza
Restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza have significantly exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The closure of crossings or the restriction of the entry of food, medicine and fuel has led to a severe shortage of basic needs for civilians. The population is deprived of daily survival, reflected in high rates of malnutrition and famine, especially among children, women and the elderly.
At the level of health services, these restrictions have led to a shortage of medicines and medical supplies, and disrupted the work of hospitals and health centers. Many hospitals have had to cut services or shut down altogether, causing an increase in deaths among the sick and wounded due to lack of necessary medical care, especially for emergencies such as surgeries and deliveries.
Water and sanitation shortages have also been reflected, with water pumping stations shut down and sewage systems destroyed by fuel shortages, leading to outbreaks of infectious diseases and increasing public health risks.
Psychologically and socially, these restrictions have left the population living in a constant state of fear and anxiety, relying on aid that has not been provided or has arrived late and inadequately. This has weakened the resilience of civil society and created a sense of helplessness and despair, especially among families who have lost their livelihoods or homes to war.
