: Aid groups warn that as Israel advances on Gaza City and announces tighter rules for humanitarian actors, restrictions and logistical hurdles risk deepening a famine already declared in northern Gaza.
Key Takeaways
- UN-backed panel declared famine conditions in Gaza City and the north; it warned of spread to central and southern Gaza by month’s end if unaddressed.
- Israel announced a requirement that aid organizations re-register by Sept. 9 and provide personal data on staff and families.
- The World Health Organization says 94% of Gaza hospitals are damaged or destroyed, and major medical stockpiles were lost in a July strike on a WHO warehouse.
- Gaza authorities report roughly 160,000 wounded and over 63,000 killed since the conflict began; Israel cites almost 1,200 Israelis and others killed in October 2023.
- New logistical barriers include reported customs fees of $300–$400 per truck and a requirement for Israeli military escorts on some routes.
- Replacement distribution schemes run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operate just three sites; WFP’s 200 distribution points remain largely offline.
Verified Facts
The UN-backed global panel on hunger in August concluded that famine conditions existed in Gaza City and northern Gaza and warned the crisis would expand to central and southern areas by the end of September unless humanitarian access improved. Multiple aid groups and Gaza health authorities have repeatedly reported rising numbers of malnutrition and critical illness.
The WHO reports that about 94% of hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed. Gaza health authorities say approximately 160,000 people have been wounded and more than 63,000 killed since the war began almost two years ago; Israeli authorities state nearly 1,200 Israelis and others were killed in the October 2023 attack.
In July, a strike damaged or destroyed WHO medical stockpiles in Gaza, removing surgical and trauma supplies as well as treatments for severely malnourished children, according to WHO statements. Aid groups say that interruptions — including a near three-month pause in aid beginning in March — have accelerated shortages.
Israeli officials have announced rules requiring NGOs to re-register under a new system and to submit personal details on local and international staff and their families. Most major humanitarian organizations say they will not comply with the demand for personal data and warned that noncompliance could force them to suspend operations after the Sept. 9 deadline.
Context & Impact
With hospitals largely out of service and medical supplies depleted, aid groups describe Gaza’s health system as collapsed in many areas. Emergency responders warn that any further reduction in NGO operations will sharply increase preventable deaths from wounds, disease and hunger.
Logistical barriers are compounding shortages. Jordanian officials report new customs levies of $300–$400 per truck for aid transiting through Israel, and aid convoys have faced delays, rejections and attacks by settlers along routes, turning short trips into multi-day ordeals.
These constraints have narrowed distribution options: the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation currently operates three distribution sites, often far from population centers, while WFP’s network of roughly 200 distribution points across Gaza remains unable to function at scale.
- Short-term: fewer functioning hospitals, limited surgical capacity, and reduced vaccination and maternal care.
- Medium-term: expanding malnutrition, rising disease outbreaks, and greater displacement pressures.
- Long-term: potential for protracted public-health collapse and urgent need for reconstruction and sustained supply chains.
“If the lifesaving support of NGOs and emergency medical teams is compromised, health care services will be severely reduced and more lives put at risk.”
World Health Organization (written response)
Unconfirmed
- Allegations that Israel will use NGO staff lists to target individuals remain unproven; aid groups express fear but have not produced definitive evidence.
- Claims of widespread looting of aid by Hamas have been challenged by an internal U.S. assessment and by several humanitarian organizations; large-scale diversion has not been documented publicly.
- Exact contents of Israel’s current prohibited-items list have not been released publicly, so the scope of material bans is partly opaque.
Bottom Line
Humanitarian agencies say Gaza already meets criteria for famine in parts of the territory, and new Israeli requirements and logistical obstacles risk further restricting life-saving aid. Restoring predictable access, protecting humanitarian staff, and reopening distribution at scale are critical to prevent the emergency from deepening.
Absent a clear agreement on how NGOs can operate securely and impartially, and without rapid increases in deliveries of food, medical supplies and fuel, humanitarian sources warn that mortality from hunger and treatable injuries will rise sharply in the coming weeks.