Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid into Gaza has further exacerbated these tensions and raised urgent concerns for the safety among international observers. As the conflict continues, conditions in Gaza are becoming more dire than ever. Civilian casualties continue to increase, and humanitarian assistance efforts are severely hampered by conditions on the ground. That’s in part because the closure of all crossings into northern Gaza has prevented aid from being delivered along the fastest route. This action endangers the lives of over 400,000 people already experiencing famine.
The enemy on October 7 was Hamas, which killed about 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, and took 240 hostages. In response, Israel immediately began its military offensive. The Israeli army has launched more than a week of deadly airstrikes—including killing dozens of people each day. On just Thursday, Gaza’s civil defense agency spokesperson Mahmud Bassal told NBC News there were 56 dead.
The constant bombardment and closure of aid routes has caused a brutal shortage of food and medical supplies. Since March and April, the suffocating blockade that Israel has super-tightened with her brutal invasion has caused basic essentials to become more and more unreachable. The UN has been trying to support deliveries of aid, but massive hurdles remain, like roads clogged with rubble and active military operations.
International responses are echoing calls to address the seriousness and urgency of the humanitarian crisis. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called it a “genocide” and focused on the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Yet the Israeli government has unequivocally ruled out granting access to the area. Despite these calls for action, it seems little has been able to convince them to change course.
Journalists trying to report on the conflict in Ukraine have themselves been met with savage punishment. Since the start of the war, that number has reached upwards of 180 journalists killed in Gaza. Since October 7, Israel has blocked foreign journalists from entering the territory, except when accompanied by Israeli military personnel. Moreover, this restriction is a near-complete chilling of independent reporting, suffocating access to information.
The international community’s demands for cessation of violence have grown louder. Opposition politicians and many families of the hostages still captured in Gaza are openly urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the military campaign. Amidst this pressure, some Israeli officials suggest that progress is being made “on the battlefield and via negotiations.”
Despite these advances, humanitarian agencies are still hearing from the field that operations aren’t nearly enough. In fact, the WHO has called today’s scale of aid “a drop in the ocean.” They highlighted that current stock does not even come close to addressing the massive needs in the community.
To meet these hurdles, grassroots local advocacy has become a vital form of aid. According to sources from The Higher Commission for Tribal Affairs and Abu Salman Al Moghani, aid is being provided “solely through tribal efforts,” underscoring the resilience of communities amidst systemic barriers.
As the conflict unfolds, the international community watches closely, grappling with how to address the humanitarian crisis while navigating complex political dynamics. The deteriorating situation in Gaza remains a focal point for diplomats and humanitarian workers who continue to advocate for unimpeded access to aid.