Israel's two-month aid halt to Gaza raises international humanitarian law concerns

Israel has halted aid deliveries to Gaza for two months, vowing to withhold essential supplies such as food, fuel, water, and medicine until it establishes a system granting it control over distribution.

However, UN officials and aid organizations deem Israel's proposed plans, which involve using its military to distribute vital supplies, as unfeasible. They argue that these plans would compromise humanitarian objectives by allowing military and political interests to interfere, imposing restrictions on aid eligibility, and potentially forcing large-scale Palestinian displacement – a violation of international law.

Although Israel has not publicly disclosed or documented its proposals, aid groups have recorded their discussions with Israeli officials. The Associated Press obtained over 40 pages of notes detailing Israel's plans and the concerns of aid groups.

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Aid organizations insist that Israel should not directly participate in aid distribution within Gaza and have expressed their refusal to engage in such a system.

"Israel has the responsibility to facilitate our work, not weaponize it," stated Jens Laerke, a spokesperson for the UN agency overseeing aid coordination in Gaza. "The humanitarian community is ready to deliver, and either our work is enabled ... or Israel will have the responsibility to find another way to meet the needs of 2.1 million people and bear the moral and legal consequences if they fail to do so," he said.

Despite ongoing discussions regarding Israel's proposals for aid distribution in Gaza, none have been finalized, and progress has stalled amidst pushback from aid groups. COGAT, the Israeli military agency responsible for coordinating Gaza aid, did not comment on the situation and instead directed inquiries to the prime minister's office, which also remained silent on the issue.

Israel's stringent blockade, instituted since early March, has purportedly led to the greatest shortage of vital supplies in Gaza since the conflict with Hamas began 19 months ago. The blockade aims to compel Hamas to release hostages taken during a military confrontation in October 2023.

Meanwhile, Israel insists on controlling aid distribution, alleging without proof that militants illicitly appropriate the resources—an assertion refuted by aid workers who cite U.N. oversight to ensure proper allocation of assistance.

Furthermore, among Israel's contentious suggestions is a more centralized aid distribution framework comprising five major hubs, which would confer upon Israel increased supervisory power—a move critiqued by aid organizations.

Israel has suggested routing all aid through a single crossing in southern Gaza, with the military or private security contractors handling delivery to designated hubs, according to documents shared with the AP and aid workers. These hubs would be located south of the Netzarim Corridor, which separates northern Gaza from the rest of the territory.

Aid groups are concerned that forcing Palestinians to collect aid from a limited number of sites, rather than providing it closer to their homes, could lead to the displacement of families. This would be a violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the forced transfer of people.

Aid officials also fear that Palestinians may end up living in "de facto internment conditions," as stated in a document signed by 20 aid groups operating in Gaza. The proposed hubs raise safety concerns, as large crowds of desperate Palestinians would need to gather in areas likely to be near Israeli troops.

"I am very scared about that," said Claire Nicolet, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, citing the risk of violence. There have been instances during the war where Israeli forces opened fire on crowds of Palestinians gathering around aid trucks, resulting in dozens of deaths, with Israel claiming many were trampled to death.

Aid organizations are sounding the alarm over Israel's insufficient humanitarian aid proposals for Gaza, where the population exceeds 2 million. Experts suggest that around 100 distribution sites are needed, a stark contrast to the 20 currently proposed by Israel.

Moreover, these groups criticize Israel's narrow focus on food distribution, pointing out the unaddressed needs for healthcare and infrastructure repair, including water systems.

"Humanitarian aid is more complex than food rations in a box that you pick up once a month," remarked Gavin Kelleher of the Norwegian Refugee Council, highlighting the challenges of transporting heavy aid boxes without adequate fuel supplies in Gaza.

Concerns also arise from fears that Hamas could co-opt aid, potentially using it to strengthen its control over the population and finance recruitment, according to Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at Israeli think tanks.

In response to resistance against its direct involvement in Gaza's aid distribution, Israel is considering the use of private security contractors to manage certain aspects of the process.

Aid organizations have expressed opposition to any presence of armed or uniformed personnel that might intimidate Palestinians or jeopardize their safety. According to documents reviewed by AP, these groups have noted that the American security company Safe Reach Solutions has been seeking partners for testing an aid distribution system near the heavily guarded Netzarim military corridor in Gaza.

The coalition of aid groups is calling on each other to refuse participation in this pilot scheme, warning that it could establish a harmful precedent with global implications.

The humanitarian agencies argue that any form of Israeli-led distribution, whether directly or through private contractors, would violate key principles of impartiality and independence in aid delivery. A European Union Commission spokesperson stated that private firms do not qualify as humanitarian aid partners for receiving EU funds and emphasized that the EU rejects any modifications leading to Israel's complete domination over Gaza's aid operations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has declined to provide details on the issue amidst ongoing discussions.

In addition, there is concern among aid groups concerning an Israeli proposal aimed at allowing authorities to judge Palestinian eligibility for aid based on "opaque procedures," which they fear undermines transparency and fairness in assistance programs.

Israel has informed aid organizations that they must re-register with the government and provide personal details about their staff members. The groups have been warned that Israel could prohibit them for various reasons, including criticism of Israel or any actions it deems as promoting the "delegitimization" of Israel.

Arwa Damon, head of the International Network for Aid, Relief and Assistance, reports an uptick in Israel's refusal to allow aid workers into Gaza who had previously gained entry. In February, despite having been allowed access four times since the conflict started, Damon was denied entry into Gaza without explanation from Israeli authorities.

Aid organizations are striving to maintain solidarity on several issues, such as resisting Israel's demands to screen their personnel or aid recipients. However, they feel increasingly cornered by these demands.

Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam's policy lead for Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed deep concern: "For us to work directly with the military in the delivery of aid is terrifying," she said, emphasizing the potential implications for both Palestinians in Gaza and humanitarian workers globally.