Over 100 NGOs Urge Israel to Halt Aid Restrictions in Gaza Amid Growing Hunger Crisis

More than 100 international organizations, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières, have issued a letter urging Israel to stop restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza. They claim that new regulations inhibit the delivery of lifesaving supplies amidst a worsening hunger crisis, with countless requests denied and escalating starvation impacting vulnerable populations.

More than 100 humanitarian organizations have joined forces to plead with the Israeli government to cease what they term the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, asserting that dire levels of starvation are intensifying. Key organizations such as Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) report facing stringent restrictions that prevent them from delivering essential aid unless they adhere to increased Israeli regulations.

Many aid agencies are reportedly told they are "not authorized" to assist Gaza if they do not comply with conditions that demand extensive information about their operations and personnel, especially in relation to Palestinian staff. Israel has staunchly denied imposing any restrictions on aid and claims that the guidelines, which were implemented in March, are intended to ensure that relief efforts align with its "national interests."

According to the collective letter signed by various NGOs, the new rules have rendered it nearly impossible for major organizations to transport any emergency supplies since March 2nd. They assert that Israeli authorities have refused dozens of requests for the delivery of critical goods, with over 60 applications denied in just July. The inability to provide necessary aid has caused hospitals to run low on crucial supplies, leading to increased mortality rates due to hunger and preventable diseases among vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly.

Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), lamented that essential goods worth over $7 million, including food enough to prepare six million meals, remain blocked in Ashdod, only a short distance from Gaza. The guidelines established in March modify how aid organizations can register to operate in Israel, outlining stringent criteria that could result in registration rejections for groups deemed hostile or non-compliant.

Israel's Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli, has remarked that while some organizations may present themselves as providing humanitarian assistance, they often serve as fronts for violent activities. He insisted that these groups would not be permitted to operate unless they disavow any connections to aggressive campaigns.

Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam Policy Lead, noted that over $2.5 million in aid has been blocked by Israeli authorities. She emphasized that these registration processes threaten the autonomy of international NGOs and their ability to speak out against humanitarian crises.

As Israeli bombardments of Gaza City escalate, with plans of taking full control of the area, the humanitarian situation remains precarious. Israel assures that it will extend aid to civilian areas, but has yet to clarify whether assistance will be funneled through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which it says will prevent Hamas from misappropriating aid—an allegation Hamas disputes.

In a dire warning, MSF emergency coordinator Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa described the current aid distribution scheme as having "militarised food distribution," characterizing it as a mechanism for weaponizing starvation. MSF Secretary-General Chris Lockyear declared the humanitarian situation in Gaza to be "hanging on by a thread," emphasizing the severe impact of the ongoing conflict.

The recent Israeli offensive has claimed nearly 62,000 Palestinian lives, according to reports from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, amid a broader humanitarian crisis that has community leaders calling for immediate international action.