Israel threatens to ban major aid organisations as starvation in Gaza deepens

Most major international NGOs have been unable to deliver a single truck of lifesaving supplies since 2 March, despite claims by Israeli authorities that there is no limit on humanitarian aid entering Gaza, a joint press release on Thursday said.

Israeli authorities are said to have rejected requests from dozens of NGOs to bring in lifesaving goods, citing that these organisations are “not authorized to deliver aid," instead of clearing the increasing backlog of goods. 

The statement said that more than 60 requests were denied under this justification in July alone.

This obstruction has left millions of dollars’ worth of food, medicine, water, and shelter items stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt, while Palestinians are being starved.

“Anera has over $7 million worth of lifesaving supplies ready to enter Gaza – including 744 tons of rice, enough for six million meals, blocked in Ashdod just kilometers away,” said Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera.

Many of the NGOs now told they are not “authorized” to deliver aid have worked in Gaza for decades, are trusted by communities and experienced in delivering aid safely.

Their exclusion has left hospitals without basic supplies, children, people with disabilities, and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses, and aid workers themselves going to work hungry.

Now Israel is trying to ban them.