Israel Continues to Block Humanitarian Aid from Reaching Starving People in Gaza for 81 Days: Authorities

Gaza (Quds News Network)- Gaza’s Government Media Office confirmed on Wednesday that Israel has continued to block all humanitarian aid from reaching the starving population in Gaza for 81 consecutive days, accusing it of using starvation as a weapon of war.

On March 2, Israel announced the closure of Gaza’s main crossings, cutting off food, medical and humanitarian supplies, leading to an unprecedented deterioration of humanitarian conditions, according to reports by human rights organisations who have accused it of using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinains.

After about 80 days of total blockade and starvation and widespread international outrage, Israel announced on Sunday night it will allow a very limited passage of aid trucks into the enclave.

However, two days later, the United Nations confirmed that Israel is still blocking food from entering the enclave with only five trucks of aid having reached Gaza by Tuesday afternoon.

Aid workers had not been given permission to distribute even that token shipment, Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA) told a Geneva press briefing.

In a statement, the Office said that the Israeli occupation continues to block the entry of humanitarian and relief aid trucks into the Gaza Strip, deliberately starving and targeting more than 2.4 million Palestinian civilians who are living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

Despite claims that aid would be allowed starting last Monday, the occupation has halted its entry without any legal or humanitarian justification. This comes as Gaza faces a deepening crisis, marked by severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, along with rapidly deteriorating health and living conditions — all indicating an imminent humanitarian catastrophe, the Office added.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, issued last week, warned that almost a quarter of the civilian population would face catastrophic levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase Five) in the coming months.

Tom Fletcher, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, issued a stark warning that 14,000 babies are at risk of dying within the next 48 hours if humanitarian aid does not reach them—a figure he described as “utterly chilling”.

Axios reported that aid will enter through several international organizations until a new US-Israeli aid mechanism begins on May 24.

The aid decision appears to be part of the broader US-Israeli plan. The strategy aims to push Gaza’s entire population into a narrow strip in the far south. Human rights groups say this amounts to forced displacement.

Under the plan, aid would only reach about 25% of Gaza’s population.

A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that most aid distribution points will be located in southern Gaza. These centers will be run by the Israeli army and private US companies, not by neutral humanitarian groups.

The official added that this is a temporary one-week decision until distribution hubs are fully operational. Axios reported that aid will be delivered through the World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and other relief organizations.

The infamous plan is part of Israel’s ongoing offensive, known as “Operation Gideon’s Chariots.” It includes controlled aid deliveries, managed entirely by the military, with no independent oversight. Rights experts warn this turns humanitarian aid into a weapon.

The United Nations has criticized the American-Israeli strategy. The UN says it endangers civilians and violates the principle of impartial aid. Instead of protecting people, the aid corridors may be used to justify more attacks.

Humanitarian agencies warn that isolating civilians in a tightly controlled zone, while bombing other areas, turns basic survival into a military tool.