UN Halts Gaza Aid Deliveries Over Escalating Security Threats

The UN's suspension of aid deliveries at the Kerem Shalom crossing highlights worsening security and violence obstructing crucial humanitarian support for Gaza's population.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has announced a suspension of all aid deliveries via the primary crossing between Israel and Gaza due to alarming security concerns. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency's head, cited recent incidents of convoys being looted by armed groups near the Kerem Shalom crossing and has called on Israeli authorities to restore law and order in the area. Israel, in contrast, has defended its operations, asserting that they facilitate aid deliveries and accusing Hamas of hijacking supplies for its benefit.

Kerem Shalom serves as the vital artery for assistance directed towards Gaza's more than two million residents, who face an imminent threat of famine. The landscape has recently been marred by a worrying uptick in violent thefts by criminal gangs, which humanitarian workers now identify as the chief barrier to effective aid distribution. A shocking incident on November 16 involved a convoy carrying vital food supplies that was ambushed by masked assailants, leading to the theft of 97 out of 109 lorries.

In a troubling escalation, members of a well-known Gazan criminal family have reportedly blocked access routes leading away from Kerem Shalom, erecting barricades and firing on vehicles attempting to approach aid distribution points. Witnesses have alleged that armed groups are brazenly operating within sight of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in restricted zones.

Mr. Lazzarini announced the temporary halt in deliveries, stating, "The road away from the crossing has not been safe for months," following another theft of five lorries over the weekend. This decision coincides with the tragic deaths of three World Central Kitchen employees and two others in an Israeli military strike targeting individuals alleged to have participated in attacks from October 7.

He emphasized that humanitarian aid must be delivered safely and should never become a perilous ordeal. Mr. Lazzarini held Israel accountable for the safety of aid workers, insisting they must ensure secure passage for humanitarian supplies and refrain from attacks on those working in aid.

In recent months, Israel has opened additional crossings into northern and central Gaza in response to international pressure for increased aid flow. Nonetheless, Kerem Shalom continues to be the primary route for humanitarian assistance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly claimed that Gaza residents receive sufficient caloric intake through aid deliveries, while contending that Hamas's actions prevent fair distribution of supplies and drive prices sky-high. In response to the UNRWA's suspension, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories announced ongoing cooperation with humanitarian organizations to enhance aid distribution through multiple crossings.

A recent report from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification—comprising the UN and various international charities—indicated that the influx of aid shipments into Gaza has seen a significant decline since the escalation of conflict in October 2023. The review warns that the humanitarian crisis in the region is deteriorating rapidly and emphasizes the urgent need for decisive action from all parties involved in the conflict to avert a looming catastrophe.