As Rimmas Talat Karim becomes the fifth child in Gaza to starve to death at the hands of the Israeli occupation, 41 international NGOs (INGO) are calling for the Israeli occupation to allow the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.
Continued breaches of ceasefire agreement by ‘Israel’
These NGOs claim that Israeli occupation authorities continue to breach the terms of the ceasefire. This is by continuing to ‘restrict and politicise aid’. Between October 10 —when the ceasefire was approved — and October 21, 17 organisations were blocked from delivering humanitarian aid. These are life supplies of food, water, medical supplies, shelters, assistive devices, hygiene kits and children’s clothing. Three-quarters of these denials were issued on the grounds that these organizations are ‘not authorized’ to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza. During this time period, the Israeli occupation also rejected 99 requests to deliver aid by INGOs. Another six requests by UN agencies were denied as well.
Closure of crossing limits entry of humanitarian aid
Before the start of the genocide, an average of 500 aid trucks were entering Gaza daily. Phase One of the ceasefire agreement called for 600 aid trucks per day to enter the territory unimpeded. But the Israeli occupation has, yet again, failed to honour this commitment. Instead, just two of the five crossings are open — the Kerem Abu Salem crossing in the South and the Al Karara crossing in the central area of Deir Al-Balah. The other crossings remain closed, severely limiting the amount of humanitarian aid that is able to reach starving, displaced, sick and desperate Palestinians in Gaza.
The blockade isn’t just logistical — it’s being weaponised as part of Israel’s wider strategy of collective punishment.
The occupation continues to weaponise aid to starving Palestinians. It refuses to open the other three crossings, accusing Hamas of delaying the handover of Israeli prisoner remains. As of October 21, according to the Government Media Office, the average number of trucks entering the Strip daily, since the ceasefire took effect, has not exceeded 89. These limited amounts do not meet even the basic needs to secure the life and dignity of Palestinians in Gaza.
Many trucks entering the Strip are commercial
According to the WHO, Israel is allowing mostly commercial trucks into Gaza — loaded with food that Palestinians are too poor to buy. But prices are soaring in the Strip, so most of the items remain out of reach for Palestinians who do not have the money to buy them.
The Rafah border crossing with Egypt, in the south of the Strip, also remains closed. Humanitarian aid trucks have been waiting at the border for many months, while Palestinians have been unable to leave the Strip for essential medical treatment, as the Rafah crossing is the only gateway for them to leave the enclave.
With no permission to leave Gaza from Israeli occupation, many Palestinians are dying.
15,000 Palestinians are in urgent need of medical care abroad, and are waiting for ‘permission’ because the occupation has intentionally destroyed Gaza’s healthcare system. These include children such as eight-year-old Luay Dweik, who was suffering from hepatitis. Dweik died after being unable to travel outside of Gaza for treatment, because Israeli occupation forces closed the Rafah crossing.
Since its approval on October 10, the Israeli occupation has repeatedly breached the ‘ceasefire’ agreement, and its killing of Palestinians has not stopped.
Israel’s siege has made starvation a policy, not a consequence. Every truck it blocks and every permit it withholds tightens the noose around a people already fighting to survive.
Featured image via the Canary
By Charlie Jaay
This post was originally published on Canary.