The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has announced a suspension of aid deliveries via Gaza’s primary cargo crossing, citing looting by armed groups as the cause.
The agency attributed the collapse of law and order to Israeli policies, further intensifying the blame amid the ongoing conflict.
In a separate development, a former Israeli defence minister and critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the government of engaging in ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, where military operations persist.
UNRWA’s decision is likely to exacerbate Gaza’s dire humanitarian crisis. With winter approaching, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians remain in overcrowded tent camps, heavily reliant on international aid. Experts have warned of famine in northern Gaza, a region nearly isolated by Israeli forces since October.
Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, explained that routes leading to the Kerem Shalom crossing had become perilous due to armed gangs. He stated, “Nearly 100 trucks were looted on this route in mid-November.”
Kerem Shalom, a critical crossing for cargo shipments, has been the main point of entry for aid since May, following the closure of Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt. According to Israeli data, the crossing has facilitated the majority of aid deliveries in recent months.
Lazzarini accused Israel of undermining humanitarian operations by restricting aid, creating unsafe routes, and targeting the Hamas-run police, which previously managed public security. On X, he criticised these actions as contributing to the current breakdown.
UNRWA’s director of affairs in Gaza, Scott Anderson, highlighted the risks, saying “Yesterday we had assurances aid would be fine. We tried to move five trucks, and they were all taken. So we’ve kind of reached a point where it makes no sense to continue to try to move aid if it’s just gonna be looted.”
However, Anderson noted that there is no evidence of systematic diversion of aid by Hamas, contrary to Israeli claims.
UNICEF spokesperson Ammar Ammar described the security situation as “unacceptable” and confirmed ongoing evaluations of operations at the crossing.
The Israeli military’s humanitarian wing reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with international bodies to facilitate aid deliveries through Kerem Shalom and other crossings. It also noted that UNRWA coordinated less than 10% of November’s aid into Gaza.
The military has accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas to infiltrate its organisation, allegations that UNRWA has repeatedly denied. Last month, Israel passed legislation to sever ties with the agency.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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