Aid Groups Say Israeli Measures Insufficient to Address Gaza Starvation Crisis

Recent measures by Israel to improve humanitarian access in Gaza, including daily pauses, airdropped aid, and corridors for UN aid trucks, have not alleviated the worsening famine, according to aid workers and humanitarian organizations. Despite an increase in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza—over 200 on Tuesday, according to Israeli customs authority (COGAT)—the volume remains well below the 500-600 trucks per day the UN says are needed to support the population of 2 million. Some aid agencies now estimate that even more trucks are required due to the escalating crisis.

Aid groups attribute the ongoing starvation to Israel's blockade, noting that most border crossings remain closed and bureaucratic obstacles have intensified. Bushra Khalidi, policy lead at Oxfam, described the new measures as "token gestures" and said, "We’re being blocked and delayed at every turn." Khalidi emphasized that the scale of need has grown exponentially since the conflict began, while access to aid has worsened.

Medical professionals and residents in Gaza report that the situation on the ground has not improved. Dr. Nouraldin Alamassi, part of Project Hope's medical team in Gaza, said, "The situation on the ground has not changed since Sunday. The food supply has not reached the target population." He noted that malnourished children continue to seek food at his clinic, which is operating at double capacity and has run out of specialized nutrition supplies.

International NGOs have faced new requirements to register with Israel's Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, including demands for Palestinian staff identification details. Many organizations are reluctant to comply due to safety concerns, and some have experienced indefinite delays in aid imports as a result. Humanitarian workers say these bureaucratic hurdles are a significant barrier to aid delivery, with one anonymous aid supply chain manager stating, "violations of access via bureaucracy don’t have the same impact on people because it’s boring and complicated. But this is what is stopping aid from getting in."

Some shipments, particularly those containing fruits or vegetables with pits or seeds, have been rejected by Israeli customs without explanation, though processed versions of these foods have sometimes been allowed in. Neither COGAT nor the Israeli ministry responsible for NGO registration responded to requests for comment.

UN officials acknowledge that while the new measures represent some progress, overall aid access remains far below what is needed. Sam Rose, acting director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, said, "It’s always give with one hand, take away with the other."