Gaza Access Humanitarian Snapshots #1 (15 July)

Save the Children and other humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Gaza have consistently reported that Israel’s systematic obstruction of aid and its ongoing attacks on aid operations, including facilities, personnel and distribution points, have prevented the effective delivery to people in need. Ever since Israel’s defense minister Gallant declared a complete siege on the Gaza Strip on 9 October 2023, the amount of aid entering the enclave has been insufficient to meet the needs on the ground. ¹

In early May, Israel launched a long-feared major ground incursion into Rafah and southern Gaza, resulting in mass forcible displacement, civilian casualties, and closure and restrictions at main crossings. This action halted medical evacuations and severed humanitarian aid to Gaza. Over the last weeks, continued Israeli bombardment across Gaza, including attacks on UN-run schools used as shelters, new so-called “evacuation orders”, attacks on municipal workers and other public service providers including water and sanitation workers, have further deteriorated the ability of aid agencies to respond. Palestinians continue to be squeezed into smaller, overcrowded areas that lack the resources to support human life.

The Government of Israel’s statistics on truck entries and narrative on access fail to address several vital components necessary for an effective operational response. Among these, the most significant is the actual delivery of aid to the population in need within Gaza. The mere entry of trucks into Gaza does not guarantee that the supplies reach the intended recipients due to safety and security reasons. Furthermore, the reported numbers do not differentiate between types of cargo, often mixing commercial goods with critical humanitarian aid, which obscures the real picture of assistance reaching those in crisis.

This snapshots provide a picture of the immense obstacles that impede aid delivery in Gaza, with concrete examples from NGOs on the ground. It offers a glimpse into the daily challenges faced by humanitarian workers, made worse by conflict, bombardment and gunfire, and the siege tactics. We aim to complement ongoing reporting from UN agencies and civil society groups to paint a picture of these
harsh realities.