Put an end to the armament by Israel of aid to Gaza, 100 humanitarian groups say

More than 100 organizations have signed a joint letter calling Israel to arrest “the armament of aid” in Gaza, while “famine is deepened”.

Humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), say that they are increasingly informed that they are “not authorized” to provide help, unless they comply with more strict Israeli regulations.

Groups may be prohibited if they “delegate” the State of Israel or do not provide detailed information on Palestinian staff.

Israel denies that there are aid restrictions and affirms that the rules, introduced in March, ensure that rescue work is carried out in accordance with the “national interests” of Israel.

According to the joint letter, most major non -governmental international organizations (NGOs) have not been able to deliver a single truck of rescue supplies since March 2.

They say that the Israeli authorities “have rejected requests from dozens of non -governmental organizations to call on rescue products”, citing new rules. More than 60 requests were refused in July only.

The inability of aid groups to provide aid “left hospitals without basic supplies, children, disabled and elderly people who die from hunger and preventable diseases,” the statement said.

Sean Carroll, CEO of the American Near East Refugee Aid (Arera), said: “Anera has more than $ 7 million in life -ready rescue supplies – including 744 tonnes of rice, enough for six million meals, blocked in Ashdod a few kilometers”.

The new guidelines introduced in March have updated the way in which aid groups must register to maintain their status in Israel, as well as provisions which describe how their requests can be refused or revoked.

Registration can be rejected if the Israeli authorities believe that a group denies the democratic nature of Israel or “promotes delegitimation campaigns” against the country.

“Unfortunately, many aid organizations serve as a cover for hostile and sometimes violent activities,” said Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli, at the Agency France-Presse news agency.

“Organizations that have no connection with hostile or violent activities and no link with the boycott movement will be allowed to operate,” added Chikli.

Bushra Khalidi, head of Oxfam policy, said that Israel had rejected more than $ 2.5 million (1.8 million pounds sterling) of goods when entering Gaza.

She added: “This recording process reports to NGOs that their ability to operate can be done to the detriment of their independence and their ability to express themselves.”

The warning comes as Israel intensifies its bombing of Gaza City, in preparation for a plan to take control of the city.

Israel says that he will provide humanitarian aid to civilian populations “outside of combat areas”, but did not specify whether this aid would be delivered by the Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) of Israel and Gaza supported by the United States.

Israel says that the system is necessary to prevent Hamas from stealing aid, an accusation of Hamas denies.

The UN indicated this month that 859 Palestinians had been killed near the GHF sites since May, a figure that the GHF denies.

In the joint declaration, Airor Zabalgogeazkoa, MSF emergency coordinator in Gaza, said that the “militarized food distribution scheme had armed famine”.

MSF secretary general, Chris Lockyear, told the BBC that GHF was a “death trap”, and that the humanitarian situation in Gaza “clung to a thread”.

The attack on Hamas in 2023 killed around 1,200 people in Israel, with 251 seized and taken in Gaza in hostages.

The offensive of Israel has since killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health managed by Hamas. He indicates that 235 people, including 106 children, also died due to famine and malnutrition.