In a recent report released by Oxfam, it has been alleged that Israel is deliberately hindering aid supplies from reaching Gaza. The NGO claims that aid trucks are waiting an average of 20 days to access the enclave, exacerbating an already dire situation. This comes as warnings of impending famine in Gaza continue to rise, with one United Nations agency predicting that famine will arrive by May at the latest.
According to Oxfam, Israel has rejected a warehouse full of international aid, including crucial supplies such as oxygen, incubators, and water and sanitation gear. The NGO argues that Israel’s actions make it impossible for aid agencies to work quickly and effectively to save lives. They further accuse Israel of breaking one of the key provisions demanded by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – to boost humanitarian aid in light of the risk of genocide in Gaza.
“The ICJ order should have shocked Israeli leaders to change course, but since then conditions in Gaza have actually worsened,” said Sally Abi Khalil, Oxfam Middle East and North Africa director. “Israeli authorities are not only failing to facilitate the international aid effort but are actively hindering it. We believe that Israel is failing to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide.”
Israel controls most of Gaza’s land crossings, but only two crossings are open to aid – Rafah and Karem Abu Salem/Kerem Shalom. Egypt partially controls the Rafah border. Oxfam reports that only 15,413 trucks have been allowed into Gaza since October 7, which is five times less than the minimum required. Aid cargo from Oxfam is currently stuck at the El Arish warehouse in Egypt, just 40 kilometers away from the Gaza border. Trucks wait for an average of 20 days to pass through.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with scores of aid workers being hit in Israeli attacks and approximately 400 aid seekers killed. The United States has resorted to aid airdrops, which have proven to be fatal in some cases. Plans are also underway to construct a seaport to facilitate aid delivery.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borell, has called on Israel to lift the blockade and accused Tel Aviv of using starvation as a “weapon of war.” However, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz argued that Israel allows extensive humanitarian aid into Gaza and blamed Hamas for disrupting aid efforts.
A separate report released by a United Nations-backed body warns that more than 200,000 people in northern Gaza, which accounts for 70 percent of the population in the area, face famine between now and May. The report found that virtually all households across Gaza are experiencing starvation, with malnutrition levels surpassing famine thresholds. The situation is particularly dire in the north, where one in three children under two years is acutely malnourished.
It is clear that urgent action is needed to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The international community must put pressure on Israel to allow for the expedited delivery of aid and lift the blockade. Lives are at stake, and waiting for famine to be officially declared is simply indefensible. The suffering of the people in Gaza must be alleviated immediately.
