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Rabat – Israeli settlers have once again obstructed the flow of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza, this time at the Nitzana border crossing with Egypt.
Reports from Israeli activists and Al Jazeera indicated that the settlers gathered at the crossing this morning, waving banners and slogans, with the intent to prevent aid trucks from reaching Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, these protesters have also called for the freezing of humanitarian funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The blockade comes amid a series of similar protests at multiple border crossings in recent weeks, exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis for Palestinians in the besieged enclave.
The most recent demonstration has led to the blocking of over 100 aid trucks from entering Gaza, as reported by Israel’s Channel 12.
Specifically, at the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, 132 aid trucks remained stranded due to the protest on Tuesday. Before the blockade, 70 trucks had successfully made their way into Gaza.
Israeli protesters demand the prioritization of the release of captives before allowing further humanitarian aid to cross into Gaza. In addition, they believe that the delivery of humanitarian assistance plays into Hamas’ interests.
Some Israelis expressed their support for the protests blocking aid to Gaza on X, formerly Twitter, with one user saying: “Excellent, there is no need to provide humanitarian assistance to Hamas.”
However, these protests have sparked intense backlash from the international community, with many condemning the protestors for blocking the much-needed humanitarian assistance.
“While People in Gaza are Starving and suffering due to lack of AID, Israeli settlers who don’t belong there are allowed the privilege of Blocking Aid,” said a pro-Palestine X user, labeling the protestor’s behavior as “absolutely disgusting.”
“First they Massacre Innocent People, then starve them!” the user added.
This demonstration comes in the wake of an exacerbating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians lack access to basic necessities like food, drinking water, and healthcare.
Making matters worse, over 20 countries, including the US, Germany, and the European Union, recently suspended their funding of the UNRWA after Israel accused 12 of UNRWA’s 13,000 employees of conspiring with Hamas in the October 7 attack.
The UN agency strongly denied the allegations and noted that “Israel has not provided evidence in writing to the UN to substantiate its allegations.”
UNRWA, which is the largest humanitarian actor in Gaza, was already struggling to provide necessary aid to Palestinians in the wake of the Israeli Occupation Forces’ (IOF) bloody war on Gaza.
On Monday morning, the IOF hit a UNRWA food convoy with naval gunfire as it was heading to northern Gaza, destroying its already dwindling aid.
UNRWA’s Director of Communications Juliette Touma said that “this was the third time a humanitarian convoy led by UNRWA is hit either on its way up or down from the north of the Gaza Strip where the highest of starvation and hunger have been identified.”
