In brief
The UN has temporarily ceased aid deliveries through the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza due to escalating violence and looting by armed gangs. The agency emphasizes the need for Israel to ensure safe passage for humanitarian efforts, as the situation in Gaza becomes increasingly dire.
The UN agency responsible for aid to Palestinians has announced the suspension of deliveries through the main crossing between Israel and Gaza, citing growing security concerns. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, reported that armed gangs have looted two recent aid convoys near the Kerem Shalom crossing, prompting a call for Israel to restore law and order. Historically, Kerem Shalom serves as the primary route for delivering vital aid to over two million people in Gaza, a region the UN warns is on the verge of famine. In recent weeks, violence has surged, with criminal thefts hampering the distribution of humanitarian supplies. On November 16, masked assailants attacked a convoy laden with food, robbing it of 97 of the 109 trucks involved. This criminal upsurge has seen notorious Gazan families erect iron barricades and reportedly threaten couriers trying to navigate the area. Lazzarini highlighted that the road from the crossing “has not been safe for months,” where, just this past Saturday, five additional lorries were seized by armed groups. The UN's announcement follows the unfortunate deaths of three employees from World Central Kitchen (WCK) in an Israeli strike, further complicating the delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel maintains that these strikes targeted individuals involved in attacks from Gaza.Lazzarini underscored the principle that humanitarian aid delivery should never be perilous, insisting that Israel bears the responsibility to ensure the safety of aid workers and supplies entering Gaza. He criticized the lack of law and order, emphasizing the necessity for secure aid flows.While Israel has, in recent months, opened multiple crossings into central and northern Gaza in response to international calls for increased aid, Kerem Shalom remains the principal channel. Conversely, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that the government facilitates sufficient daily caloric intake for Gazans while accusing Hamas of exploiting aid shipments for their benefit, selling food at inflated prices to solidify their control over the region.In response to UNRWA's suspension, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories declared that other organizations continue to deliver aid, asserting their commitment to work with international partners to enhance humanitarian aid through various crossings.A recent evaluation by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification—administered by the UN along with international organizations—indicated that aid shipments into Gaza are at an all-time low since the conflict escalated in October 2023. The report detailed an "extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating" humanitarian reality in Gaza, warning that famine risks loom unless prompt actions are taken by all parties involved in the ongoing conflict.
