Just 12 trucks were able to deliver food and water in northern Gaza over the past two and a half months, according to Oxfam. The humanitarian organization shared this concerning update on Sunday, highlighting the severe crisis in the besieged region.
Israeli authorities dismissed the claims, stating the report “deliberately and inaccurately” ignores their efforts to provide aid.
Oxfam reported that out of the 34 trucks approved for entry into northern Gaza during this period, only 12 were able to deliver aid due to what they called “deliberate delays and systematic obstructions” by the Israeli military. The statement noted that three of these deliveries were followed by shelling of the shelters where aid was provided.
Israel, which has strictly controlled aid to Gaza since the war began, has often pointed to what it sees as challenges faced by relief organizations in distributing large amounts of aid.
COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body handling Palestinian civilian affairs, criticized Oxfam’s report. It stated that since October, over 2,100 aid trucks have entered northern Gaza, with food, water, and medical supplies reaching areas like Beit Hanoun, Beit Lahia, and Jabalia.
In contrast, Human Rights Watch recently accused Israeli authorities of deliberately depriving Gazans of water, claiming this has caused thousands of deaths and could lead to more.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza was triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in 1,208 deaths, mostly civilians. Israel’s military response has since caused over 45,000 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry figures acknowledged by the United Nations.
Oxfam and other aid organizations claim they have been “consistently blocked” from delivering critical supplies in northern Gaza since October 6, when Israel escalated its offensive. Thousands remain cut off without access to basic necessities like food and water, the group noted.
In early December, aid groups in Gaza reported receiving desperate calls from people trapped in homes and shelters that had run out of supplies. Oxfam detailed an incident in November where a convoy of 11 trucks was delayed at checkpoints. Soldiers later forced the offloading of supplies in a militarized zone inaccessible to civilians.
On Thursday, the UN General Assembly approved a resolution calling on the International Court of Justice to evaluate Israel’s obligations to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.
