Nongovernmental organizations say Israel continues to use blockades and bureaucratic red tape to prevent desperately needed humanitarian aid from reaching the war-ravaged population in Gaza.
“This obstruction has left millions of dollars’ worth of food, medicine, water and shelter items stranded in warehouses across Jordan and Egypt, while Palestinians are being starved,” more than 100 religious and secular groups said in a protest statement released Aug. 13.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to supporters at a Likud Party gathering on November 17, 2019, in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
“Many of the NGOs now told they are not ‘authorized’ to deliver aid have worked in Gaza for decades, are trusted by communities and experienced in delivering aid safely. Their exclusion has left hospitals without basic supplies, children, people with disabilities and older people dying from hunger and preventable illnesses, and aid workers themselves going to work hungry,” the statement explains.
Outrage over the continuing “weaponization of aid” into Gaza has been a continuing problem since Israel invaded the territory after Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in October 2023.
With mounting reports of famine and disease spreading through the territory, Israel has periodically ceased combat operations to allow airdrops and convoys of food and medicine. But civilians have been killed trying to retrieve the provisions and aid workers attacked attempting to deliver supplies.
More than 50 NGOs complained in May about overly complex registration requirements placed on groups trying to deliver aid to Gazans. Israel has required organizations provide detailed budgets, donor lists and private personal information about paid and volunteer workers.
“Under these new rules, registration can be denied on the basis of vague and politicized criteria, such as alleged ‘delegitimization’ of the state of Israel.'”
“Under these new rules, registration can be denied on the basis of vague and politicized criteria, such as alleged ‘delegitimization’ of the state of Israel,’” according to the latest statement signed by the American Friends Service Committee, Oxfam, Pax Christi International, the United Church of Canada and other groups.
The process is unlawful and designed to squelch advocacy, control aid organizations and censor humanitarian reporting to enable the widening occupation of Palestinian territory, the letter asserts. “Unless INGOs submit to the full registration requirements … many could be forced to halt operations in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and remove all international staff within 60 days.”
These on-the-ground assessments of NGOs working in the region differ markedly from the religious and ideological positions taken by conservative politicians and evangelical groups such as the Family Research Council and the James Dobson Family Institute.
Buddy Carter
In a recent FRC podcast, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., said Israel is being unfairly blamed for the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and accused Hamas of causing most of the suffering. FRC leaders have claimed Israel is “doing far more” than other nations and organizations to help Gazans and have turned to scripture to justify the killing of Gazans.
Israel is the victim of a “vicious campaign of lies” and a “smear campaign” alleging the Jewish nation is purposely targeting noncombatants, said Gary Bauer, senior vice president of public policy for the James Dobson Family Institute.
“We live in a world of mass communication saturated with lies. As Christians, we must constantly be discerning and seek the truth. The charge that Israel is starving Gazans is vile propaganda, similar to the ‘big lie’ technique perfected by Adolph Hitler,” Bauer said.
Evangelicals also have claimed the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is adequately caring for the needs of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. GHF was launched by Israel with U.S. support after conservatives said relief supplies were being diverted by Hamas.
However, GFH is described by NGOs in the statement as a humanitarian front and “deadly tool of control” designed to enhance Israeli military operations.
“Distributions at GHF sites have resulted in extreme levels of violence and killings, primarily of young Palestinian men, but also of women and children, who have gone to the sites in the hope of receiving food,” said Aitor Zabalgogeazkoa, Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator in Gaza.
According to the United Nations, GHF “is an utterly disturbing example of how humanitarian relief can be exploited for covert military and geopolitical agendas in serious breach of international law.”
The pressure on Israel continues to increase, spurred in part by reports of genocidal conditions in Gaza. A growing number of nations are moving to recognize Palestinian statehood, including Canada, the UK, France and Australia, while charges of genocide have been lodged with the International Court of Justice.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have died since war erupted between Israel and Hamas in 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry reported, and about 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced.
Malnutrition “is on a dangerous trajectory” in Gaza after “a spike in deaths in July,” the World Health Organization said.
Of the 74 starvation-related deaths documented in Gaza this year, 63 occurred last month, including 24 children under age 5. Close to one in five children under 5 are acutely malnourished, WHO added.
The report described the situation as “entirely preventable” but perpetuated by the intentional blocking of humanitarian aid.
The report described the situation as “entirely preventable” but perpetuated by the intentional blocking of humanitarian aid.
“WHO calls for urgent, sustained efforts to flood the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, and to expedite the delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, as well as essential medicines and supplies. This flow must remain consistent and unhindered to support recovery and prevent further deterioration.”
But Israel has continued to interfere with the flow of aid well into August, NGO groups and leaders said.
“Anera has over $7 million worth of lifesaving supplies ready to enter Gaza — including 744 tons of rice, enough for 6 million meals, blocked in Ashdod just kilometers away,” said Sean Carroll, president of the relief and development group.
The humanitarian aid organization CARE has been unable to deliver more than $1.5 million in supplies to Gaza since Israel began its siege of the territory in March, Director Jolien Veldwijk said.
“This includes critical shipments of food parcels, medical supplies, hygiene kits, dignity kits, and maternal and infant care items. Our mandate is to save lives, but due to the registration restrictions, civilians are being left without the food, medicine and protection they urgently need.”
The groups concluded the statement with a plea for the international community to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on aid and to exempt NGOs from having to disclose sensitive information related to its operations, employees and volunteers.
“Both the ‘GHF’ scheme and the INGO registration process aim to block impartial aid, exclude Palestinian actors, and replace trusted humanitarian organizations with mechanisms that serve political and military objectives,” the statement says.
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