As Gaza faces a looming famine with rising malnutrition deaths, hundreds of aid trucks sit idle at the border, unable to reach desperate Palestinians. Israel claims it allows ample aid, with 4,500 trucks entering since May, but the United Nations points to military restrictions and insecurity as major barriers to distribution.

UN agencies report that retrieving aid from crossings like Kerem Shalom requires navigating military-controlled zones, with over half of 894 movement requests denied or delayed from May to July. Unsafe routes, often impassable or controlled by armed gangs, exacerbate the issue.

The collapse of Gaza’s Hamas-run police force has fueled looting, with crowds overwhelming trucks. Gaza’s health ministry reported 79 deaths this week alone, alleging Israeli forces fired on civilians seeking aid, though Israel claims it targeted threatening crowds.

Colonel Abdullah Halaby of COGAT, Israel’s aid coordination agency, insists there are no limits on aid entry and blames UN inefficiencies. However, the UN’s Olga Cherevko cites frequent denials, bureaucratic delays, and dangerous conditions, noting that only consistent daily aid flows can restore order and reduce looting. The UN rejects Israeli military escorts, citing risks to civilians from past incidents.

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With just 70 trucks entering daily—far below the 600 needed, per UN estimates—aid agencies warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis. “Communities need to know food will come every day,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, emphasizing that reliable aid access is key to saving lives in Gaza.

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