Since the renewed military offensive in northern Gaza commenced 12 days ago, humanitarian organizations have reported an alarming halt in aid deliveries to the region. According to Israeli statistics, the volume of aid reaching Gaza is drastically lower compared to the same timeframe in September.
Allegations have arisen that the Israeli military is obstructing food aid to weaken Hamas fighters. A senior United Nations official has expressed grave concerns, stating that “supplies for survival are running out” in north Gaza, with reports indicating the humanitarian situation is unsustainable.
Joyce Msuya, the UN’s Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, confirmed on Monday that from October 2 to 15, all food aid directed toward northern Gaza was blocked. Although there was minimal aid permitted into the territory recently, she warned that ongoing fuel shortages would soon close bakeries across the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied intentionally preventing food from reaching northern Gaza. In a shift, the United States has urged Israel to urgently enhance humanitarian access or it may consider suspending some military support, closely monitoring actions in the region to ensure no “policy of starvation” is being pursued.
The UN has added that a persistent risk of famine looms across the entire Gaza Strip, with escalating hostilities exacerbating the situation.
### Decline in Aid Deliveries to Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that only 5,840 tons of food entered Gaza in the first two weeks of October, a staggering decrease from 75,898 tons in September. The UN indicated that no aid was delivered to Gaza in the two weeks leading up to last Sunday, following mounting pressure on Israel to improve humanitarian access.
In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Ms. Msuya highlighted Israel’s facilitation of just one out of 54 attempts to deliver aid through the Rashid checkpoint during the initial half of October. Although some distribution continued, the available supplies are rapidly diminishing.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that their food aid could deplete within a week and a half unless fresh deliveries were allowed. Reports show that existing stocks are nearly exhausted, posing a grave risk to the civilian population.
### Military Actions in Northern Gaza
The IDF’s intensified campaign against Hamas in the north aims to prevent the regrouping of militants. An evacuation order has been issued for an estimated 400,000 residents but many have remained in place, burdened by ongoing displacement and access issues.
Israeli forces are focusing operations in the Jabalia area, a densely populated refugee camp. While Israel claims there is no starvation policy, some speculate that the decline in humanitarian supplies aligns with what local media has termed “the Generals’ plan”—a strategy suggesting that civilians should evacuate or risk starvation.
In interviews, Netanyahu dismissed allegations of a deliberate starvation policy, underscoring his government’s claims of facilitating adequate food supplies.
### Voices from Northern Gaza
Residents in northern Gaza report a severe decline in access to food and water. Accounts indicate that food deliveries have dwindled significantly, with some receiving only one meal every few days. High prices further complicate survival, and basic items such as bread have become increasingly difficult to obtain.
Organized crime in the region has worsened the situation, with reports of aid drivers being targeted and robbed while delivering essential items.
### International Reactions and Concerns
Condemnation regarding the humanitarian situation has emerged globally. Michael Fakhri, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to food, has accused Israel of implementing a starvation campaign, with devastating health impacts observed among the population.
The latest UN reports indicate that approximately 1.84 million people in Gaza face acute food insecurity, with a prediction that those experiencing catastrophic hunger levels may triple in the near future due to reduced aid access.
In light of the worsening crisis, UN Secretary General António Guterres has called for immediate action to facilitate humanitarian assistance, while the United States has issued an urgent plea to Israel for improved aid access. Meanwhile, some European officials have criticized the U.S. for its extension of deadline to Israel, deeming it insufficient given the escalating humanitarian emergency.
