More than 2 million Palestinians face severe shortages as Gaza’s aid system collapses. Here’s how it unraveled and what’s happening diplomatically.
Twenty-one months into the Israeli offensive launched after the Oct. 7 attack by terrorist group Hamas, the situation on the ground in Gaza has become one of the most complex and contested crises.
International organizations warn of looming famine, limited access to clean water, failing hospitals, and displacement affecting 90 percent of the population.
Meanwhile, Israel says there is no famine in Gaza and blames Hamas for obstructing aid distribution.
How exactly is aid supposed to reach Gaza? Who’s blocking what—and why?
This is a breakdown of what we know about how aid delivery to Gaza works, why it’s faltering, and how global actors are responding.
Who Delivers Aid and How?
Before the Hamas attacks that killed more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign citizens and kidnapped 251 on Oct. 7, 2023, humanitarian aid reached Gaza primarily by land, with some limited air and sea deliveries in emergency contexts.
Key players would include the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), international NGOs, and national aid bodies.
Since October 2023, delivery has faced immense challenges: border closures, fighting, and lawlessness.
Truck convoys pass through tightly monitored land crossings like Rafah (Egypt-Gaza) and Kerem Shalom (Israel-Gaza), but volumes are far below what’s needed.
The United Nations and the WFP said that aid shipments, regardless of origin, must be coordinated with Israeli authorities. After Israel opened additional access points in mid-2024, convoys were still halted frequently due to security concerns, according to the groups.
By early 2025, U.N. agencies reported that access had become so restricted and conditions so dangerous that many convoys simply stopped moving.
Today, Gaza’s aid delivery system is fragmented and dysfunctional.
Why Did Israel Block UN Aid?
On March 2, Israel imposed a full blockade, cutting off food, fuel, and medicine in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing Israeli hostages.
The move followed the collapse of a two-month cease-fire on March 18 and the reignition of military operations.
Israel said the blockade was needed to prevent Hamas from diverting aid to terrorists. The group denies the accusations.
