Over 100 humanitarian organizations accuse Israel of weaponizing aid delivery to Gaza through restrictive vetting processes that have blocked critical supplies since March. The new regulations require NGOs to avoid ‘delegitimizing’ Israel while providing detailed staff information, leading to rejected aid shipments and worsening starvation in the besieged territory.
Humanitarian groups including Oxfam, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) jointly reported that Israeli authorities have denied over 60 aid requests in July alone. Major international NGOs have been unable to deliver any trucks of lifesaving supplies since March under the new registration framework introduced by Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
The restrictions center on requirements that NGOs must not ‘deny the democratic character of Israel’ or promote ‘delegitimization campaigns.’ Organizations must also provide extensive documentation about Palestinian staff members. Israel’s Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli defended the policy, stating it prevents groups from serving as ‘covers for hostile activity,’ while COGAT claims 20 registered organizations continue operating with 300 daily aid trucks.
Impact includes hospitals lacking basic medical supplies and vulnerable populations dying from preventable illnesses. Oxfam reported $2.5 million in blocked goods, while Anera has $7 million worth of supplies – including 744 tons of rice for 6 million meals – stranded near Gaza. The UN warns 600 daily trucks are needed to prevent famine, double what Israel claims to allow.
The crisis unfolds as Israel intensifies bombardment of Gaza City, where Hamas-run health authorities report 235 starvation-related deaths including 106 children. Humanitarian workers describe the situation as ‘militarized food distribution’ that ‘weaponizes starvation,’ with MSF’s secretary-general calling current aid systems a ‘death trap.’
Israel maintains the regulations prevent Hamas from diverting aid, though Hamas denies these accusations. The UN separately reports 859 Palestinian deaths near Israeli-controlled aid distribution points since May. International pressure mounts as UK and allied nations demand ‘immediate, permanent steps’ to facilitate aid entry amid UN warnings of ‘unfolding famine.’
Next steps involve continued advocacy by NGOs for policy changes and increased international pressure. Oxfam warns the vetting forces groups to choose between operational access and their independence to report on crises. With Gaza’s humanitarian situation ‘hanging by a thread,’ diplomatic efforts focus on establishing reliable aid corridors outside conflict zones.