Israeli curbs causing ‘alarming’ drop in Gaza aid deliveries, official warns
Displaced Palestinian children at a community kitchen in Al-Bureij refugee camp, central Gaza, May 2026
Mera Aladam reports in Middle East Eye on 20 May 2026:
Israeli restrictions are causing a “severe and alarming” drop in the number of aid trucks entering Gaza, a Palestinian official warned on Tuesday. Ismail al-Thawabta, director general of Gaza’s Government Media Office, said the restrictions were inflicting “catastrophic harm to civilians”.
He explained that since the ceasefire came into effect in October, Israel has allowed only 48,636 aid trucks into Gaza out of the 131,400 stipulated under the agreement, meaning more than 63 percent of humanitarian supplies have been blocked from entering the enclave.
The situation worsened in May, when the aid entry rate fell from 37 percent to just 25 percent. Only 2,719 trucks were allowed into Gaza out of the expected 10,800.
“This constitutes an extremely dangerous indicator reflecting the escalating policy of deliberately restricting and rationing humanitarian aid,” al-Thawabta said on X. He said the sharp decline in aid deliveries “confirms beyond any doubt that the occupation is pursuing a systematic policy of using food, medicine, and humanitarian aid as tools of pressure and political blackmail”. He added that the restrictions violate international humanitarian law and are causing catastrophic suffering for civilians.
Al-Thawabta called on the international community to pressure Israel to comply with the ceasefire agreement, including by halting its attacks and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of aid into Gaza. Under the agreement, Israel was required to lift restrictions and allow up to 600 aid trucks a day carrying food, fuel, medical supplies, shelter materials and commercial goods.
However, Gaza authorities say Israeli restrictions have kept the daily average at just over 200 trucks.