The humanitarian situation in northern Gaza continues to deteriorate, with just 12 trucks distributing food and water over the past two-and-a-half months, aid organization Oxfam reported on Sunday. The group raised alarm over what it described as severe obstructions to aid delivery in the besieged Palestinian territory.
“Of the meager 34 trucks of food and water given permission to enter the North Gaza Governorate, deliberate delays and systematic obstructions by the Israeli military meant that just 12 managed to distribute aid to starving Palestinian civilians,” Oxfam stated. The report included deliveries made through Saturday, noting that in three instances, schools where food and water were delivered were shelled within hours of the aid arriving.
Israel, which has maintained tight controls on aid entering the Hamas-ruled territory since the war began, rejected Oxfam’s findings. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli defense ministry body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza, called the report “deliberately and inaccurately” dismissive of Israeli efforts.
“Since October, over 2,100 aid trucks have entered the northern Gaza Strip,” COGAT told AFP, adding that shipments of food, water, and medical supplies were delivered to northern areas, including Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and Jabalia.
The crisis comes amid ongoing accusations against Israel regarding its handling of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Human Rights Watch recently released a report accusing Israeli authorities of systematic efforts to deprive Gazans of water, which it said has likely resulted in thousands of deaths. Israel has denied these claims.
The conflict, now in its 14th month, began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which killed 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. Retaliatory strikes by Israel have killed at least 45,317 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures the United Nations deems reliable.
Oxfam alleged that aid delivery has been continuously obstructed since October 6, when Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza. “Thousands of people are estimated to still be cut off, but with humanitarian access blocked, it’s impossible to know exact numbers,” Oxfam said.
One instance cited involved a convoy of 11 trucks in November. According to Oxfam, the trucks were delayed at a holding point by Israeli military forces and later stopped at a checkpoint, where aid was offloaded into a militarized zone inaccessible to civilians.
The United Nations General Assembly last week approved a resolution requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to assess Israel’s obligations to assist Palestinians, reflecting international concern over the unfolding humanitarian crisis.
