More than 100 humanitarian organizations have written to Israel urging the country to stop blocking aid to Gaza, as the region faces deepening starvation. The organizations, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), claim that new Israeli regulations, implemented in March 2025, are making it increasingly difficult for them to deliver life-saving supplies to the people of Gaza.
The charities say they have been told they are “not authorized” to deliver aid unless they comply with the stringent Israeli rules. These include providing detailed information about Palestinian staff members and avoiding any actions that could “delegitimize” Israel. Failure to meet these requirements has led to the rejection of dozens of aid requests, with more than 60 requests being denied in July alone.
Sean Carroll, CEO of American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera), stated that $7 million worth of lifesaving supplies, including 744 tons of rice, are currently blocked in Ashdod, just kilometers away from Gaza. According to the organizations, this delay has left hospitals without basic supplies, contributing to a humanitarian disaster as people, particularly children and the elderly, suffer from hunger and preventable illnesses.
Israel, on the other hand, denies that aid is being restricted. Officials argue that the regulations are necessary to ensure that aid reaches the people of Gaza directly and not Hamas. The Israeli military body in charge of coordinating aid, Cogat, maintains that nearly 20 organizations have completed the registration process and are successfully bringing aid into Gaza. However, aid groups say that the number of trucks entering Gaza remains far below the necessary amount, with the UN stating that 600 trucks of supplies are needed daily, but only about 300 are entering.
The introduction of these new rules has sparked outrage among humanitarian organizations, which warn that the “weaponization of aid” is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, MSF emergency coordinator, condemned the new system, saying that it has made the distribution of food and aid a tool for military control, deepening the suffering of civilians.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to justify its actions by claiming that some aid organizations are linked to hostile activities or political movements that undermine Israel’s legitimacy. Israel’s Diaspora Minister, Amichai Chikli, emphasized that only those organizations with no ties to violence or the boycott movement would be granted permission to operate.
As the situation in Gaza grows increasingly dire, many international observers are calling for immediate action to allow unhindered access for humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of millions of Palestinians. The humanitarian community remains divided, with some fearing that the ongoing restrictions could lead to even more severe consequences for the people of Gaza.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrC-MatCxX4
