Israel restricts humanitarian aid into Gaza

Israel has said it will take direct control of all humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip. Aid agencies say they will not go along with the plan.

Under the plan, only one entry point from the occupied territories into Gaza, the Karm Abu Salem crossing, will remain open.

Officials from five major aid agencies and the United Nations said all goods entering Gaza would be screened and directed to several new “provisioning centers” that Israel has set up.

Israel will also set up a tracking system for all aid distribution, potentially requiring all aid workers to obtain a permit.

The new rules were outlined by a unit in the Israeli War Ministry that coordinates urban affairs in the occupied territories in meetings with humanitarian agencies on Wednesday and Thursday.

The changes come at a time of deep uncertainty about the future of humanitarian aid in Gaza; several major international aid organizations have been told that their funding from the United States Agency for International Development will be cut.

Meanwhile, Israel has halted all aid shipments to Gaza as the first phase of the ceasefire agreement has ended, repeating long-standing accusations without evidence that aid is being diverted to Hamas; the decision halts the flow of aid that began with a weeks-long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Various humanitarian organizations and countries have condemned Israel’s refusal to allow aid into Gaza.

South Africa strongly condemned the Israeli regime’s refusal to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and its closure of border crossings at a time when the people of Gaza are experiencing immense suffering and are in urgent need of food, shelter and medical supplies.