Gaza’s aid blockade must be lifted now

Plan International Australia Media Release

Plan International is profoundly disturbed by the chaos that has erupted today during the first day of food distribution of the Israeli government’s scheme implemented by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and US private security firms.

There are reports of shots being fired by US private security firms and the Israeli military as starving Palestinians tried to access much needed food supplies. Plan International’s partners working on the ground have confirmed the severity of the situation.

Plan International, along with the rest of the humanitarian community, has consistently warned of the risks imposed by this scheme and have entirely rejected it. Food distribution requires experienced and careful management to ensure the safety of communities receiving aid and of those delivering it.

The first day of operations at the distribution centre in Rafah saw tens of thousands of desperate civilians waiting for hours for minimal supplies which they would have to carry long distances. This is clear proof that the Israeli scheme does not work, it does not adhere to humanitarian principles and must not be confused with humanitarian aid.

The distribution scheme risks further forced displacement of Palestinians by design, endangering the lives and dignity of a community that has already experienced unimaginable levels of human suffering, loss and destruction.

Catastrophic levels of acute hunger

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification snapshot released on May 12, 93% of Gaza’s population will face emergency or catastrophic levels of acute hunger if humanitarian access continues to be restricted. This includes 470,000 people who are facing catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), the most severe level of food insecurity.

Lindsey Hutchison, Head of Plan International’s Global Humanitarian Policy, Advocacy and Diplomacy Unit said: “The blockade imposed by Israeli authorities on all aid supplies on 2 March 2025 has effectively cut off the lifeline that the people of Gaza, including 1 million children, rely on to survive. There is a safe, principled, and practical solution to get aid into Gaza through the UN and its INGO partners, the only barrier to its implementation is the nearly 3 month long complete Israeli blockade, and the humanitarian access impediments imposed throughout the past 20 months. Plan International has several trucks and UNRWA has more than 3,000 trucks in Jordan and Egypt ready to enter Gaza, with desperately needed aid which will perish soon.

“After this prolonged exposure to starvation as part of the military strategy of Israel, the limited supplies which have been trickled into Gaza are well below levels needed to sustain the starving population. The disregard shown by the Israeli government not only for its own legal obligations as the occupying power in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories, but for humanity, is shocking. The blockade of aid may constitute a war crime.”

Call for resumption of principled aid

“We are calling for the immediate resumption of principled aid operations and for the UN and principled humanitarian organisations to be permitted to deliver much needed aid to the people of Gaza. As evidenced by today’s events, private security contractors and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation lack the capability required to conduct safe and effective aid distribution in Gaza,” Ms Hutchison said.

“Only the UN and humanitarian partners have the expertise and operational coverage to deliver aid in Gaza with neutrality, impartiality, independence, and humanity. Blocking aid starves civilians and means that lives are lost. Action is needed immediately to ensure the survival of millions of starving Palestinians in Gaza.”

 

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