Over the past 17 months, Israel has increasingly leveraged food and international humanitarian aid as a means of collective pressure against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing conflict has plunged civilians into severe food shortages and famine-like conditions, leading to the heartbreaking deaths of numerous children from starvation and other preventable illnesses during this escalating humanitarian crisis.
In early March, Israeli authorities once again blocked the entry of essential humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is home to approximately 2.3 million people. Following this, on March 18, Israel unilaterally ended a ceasefire that had been in place since January, reigniting attacks across the enclave and resulting in hundreds more Palestinian casualties.
This combination of military aggression and dire humanitarian circumstances has rapidly deteriorated living conditions in Gaza, a situation that has persisted since the onset of the war in October 2023. Here’s a timeline highlighting how humanitarian aid has been manipulated in the conflict:
- October 9: Israel imposes a “total blockade” on Gaza, halting all food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity supplies. The then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to take action against “human animals,” ordering a “complete siege.” Thirteen months later, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, charging them with using starvation as a method of warfare.
- October 21: After two weeks of heavy bombing, the first aid truck enters Gaza via Egypt, following international pressure that forced Israel to allow a limited number of aid shipments.
- November 2023: A temporary truce is established between Israel and Hamas, resulting in a slight increase in humanitarian aid. However, the United Nations and various aid organizations report that this influx remains woefully inadequate for the needs of the population, which is predominantly made up of children. While exchanges of captives occur, there are no guarantees for an end to hostilities or the return of displaced Palestinians.
- February 29: A tragic incident known as the “flour massacre” occurs when Israeli forces open fire on Palestinians waiting for food aid, resulting in at least 112 deaths and over 750 injuries. The military has repeatedly targeted aid convoys, often claiming to target “terrorists” but failing to provide evidence.
- April 1: Israeli drone strikes hit an aid convoy operated by World Central Kitchen (WCK), killing six international aid workers and a Palestinian driver. Following this, WCK and other humanitarian organizations were compelled to halt their operations in Gaza.
- October 6: The Israeli military escalates its siege on northern Gaza, designating the area as a combat zone and issuing forced evacuation orders to hundreds of thousands of residents. Throughout winter, humanitarian aid entry remains heavily restricted, despite urgent needs.
- January 19: A ceasefire allows for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, although relief organizations assert that ongoing support is crucial for restoring any semblance of normalcy. Despite an increase in aid trucks, the volume remains below what was agreed upon in the ceasefire terms.
- March 2: For the second time since the beginning of the war, Israel halts the entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza, a directive still in place.
- March 10: Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), warns of an impending hunger crisis and accuses Israel of illegally weaponizing humanitarian assistance.
- March 18: Israel ends the ceasefire, launching one of the heaviest bombing campaigns yet, resulting in over 400 Palestinian deaths and more than 500 injuries on the first day alone.
- March 25: The UN announces the withdrawal of 30 percent of its international staff from Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that killed a Bulgarian UN staff member and injured several others.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the situation in Gaza remains precarious, with urgent calls for sustained international attention and intervention.
