Humanitarian organizations call on Israel to stop the blockade of aid to Gaza

• Humanitarian organizations have called on Israel to stop blocking aid to Gaza.
• The majority of organizations are unable to deliver aid from January 2025.
• Israel prohibits the delivery of humanitarian aid.

More than 100 non-profit organizations stated on Thursday that the rules that Israel has imposed for humanitarian groups working in the Gaza sector and the occupied territories of the West Bank hinder the delivery of essential aid. They claim that these rules replace independent organizations with those that support the political and military agenda of Israel, which is prohibited.

A letter signed by organizations such as Oxfam, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and CARE accuses Israel of "using humanitarian aid as a tool for tightening control" in the conditions of the ongoing war in Gaza, using it as an instrument for consolidating control.

Humanitarian organizations reacted to the registration rules announced by Israel in January, which require organizations to provide complete lists of their donors and Palestinian personnel for verification. They assert that this could endanger their personnel and give Israel broad powers to block aid, as organizations will be recognized as "delegitimizing" the country or supporting boycotts or withdrawing from investments.

These rules, according to their words, imply controlling independent organizations, banning advocacy, and censoring humanitarian voices.

The Israeli military organization COGAT, responsible for humanitarian aid to Gaza, responded to the accusations in the letter, asserting that organizations are used as a cover for Hamas for "exploitation of aid to strengthen their military capabilities and consolidate control" in Gaza.

According to the data of humanitarian organizations, the majority of them have been unable to deliver "any assistance" since the moment the blockade was imposed in January. Most aid does not reach civilians in Gaza, where tens of thousands have been killed, most of the population displaced, and famine threatens.

Meanwhile, tensions have risen due to the support from Israel and the U.S. for the Humanitarian Fund for Gaza, which is supposed to be the main distributor of aid in the besieged territory. This American subsidiary, which is supposed to replace the traditional aid distribution system under the leadership of the UN, has become a subject of international scrutiny after reports of how many Palestinians have been killed, trying to obtain aid through its distribution points.

Israel insists that agencies of the UN accept military escorts for the delivery of goods to Gaza, which agencies in essence have rejected, referring to their neutrality. This situation has led to superfluous statements: Israel asserts that it allows the delivery of aid to Gaza according to its rules, while humanitarian organizations that have worked in Gaza for a long time express concern regarding the restrictions through the number of humanitarian deliveries, which are delayed at control points.

An Oxfam representative in Gaza reported that the organization has goods worth over 2.5 million dollars, which have been withheld for entry into Gaza, including items for water supply, sanitation, and hygiene, as well as food.

She added that "the possibilities of humanitarian organizations to operate may be contingent on their independence and ability to express themselves."

Tags: Middle East/Politics