Doctors Without Borders has accused Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid in Gaza, as blockades prevent essential supplies from reaching millions of civilians caught in the crossfire of ongoing hostilities.
Key Takeaways
- Israel has imposed a blockade on humanitarian aid to Gaza, cutting off food, fuel, medicine, and water to 2 million residents as leverage in ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
- Doctors Without Borders condemns the blockade as “collective punishment” that violates international humanitarian law, stating aid should never be used as a bargaining chip.
- The blockade has forced shutdown of critical infrastructure, including desalination plants that provide fresh water to Gaza’s population.
- Aid organizations report having supplies ready but cannot deliver them due to Israeli restrictions, with the last MSF supplies entering Gaza on February 27.
- Human rights groups and international organizations have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war amid the ongoing conflict.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Under Aid Blockade
Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza has created a dire situation for over two million Palestinians, with critical supplies of food, medicine, and fuel being withheld as part of ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. Humanitarian organizations report having stockpiles of supplies ready but are unable to distribute them due to the Israeli-imposed restrictions. The blockade is particularly devastating as most Gaza residents are already displaced and living in temporary shelters with minimal access to basic necessities.
The situation has deteriorated further with Israel cutting electricity to two major desalination plants, effectively cutting off fresh water to Gaza’s population. Without fuel entering the territory, these facilities cannot operate on backup generators for long. Aid workers report that prices for basic goods have skyrocketed, making even available items unaffordable for many families who have already exhausted their resources during months of conflict.
#Gaza: Doctors Without Borders condemns the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip, depriving people of essential services like water and electricity.
Using humanitarian needs as a bargaining chip amounts to collective punishment and must be stopped.https://t.co/uuqJUBPmzD
— Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (@MSF_canada) March 11, 2025
Aid Organizations Condemn “Collective Punishment”
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has taken a strong stance against what they characterize as Israel’s use of humanitarian aid as a negotiation tool. The organization has been unable to bring meaningful supplies into Gaza since late February, leaving their humanitarian operations in jeopardy as stockpiles sit idle. MSF officials warn that the blockade is having deadly consequences for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who rely on international aid for survival.
“Israeli authorities are yet again normalizing the use of aid as a negotiation tool,” said Myriam Laaroussi, MSF emergency coordinator. “Humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip in war. The blockade on all supplies is inevitably hurting hundreds of thousands of people and is having deadly consequences.”
Other international organizations have joined in condemning the blockade. Oxfam has called the decision to block aid “a reckless act of collective punishment” that violates international humanitarian law. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations have also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation. These organizations stress that aid access must be immediately resumed and expanded to meet the enormous needs of Gaza’s civilian population.
Political Standoff with Humanitarian Consequences
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has justified the aid freeze as necessary leverage to pressure Hamas into extending the ceasefire and releasing more hostages. However, human rights groups argue this strategy constitutes using starvation as a weapon of war. The aid restrictions threaten to undo progress made during the initial phase of the ceasefire when more supplies were entering Gaza and efforts to prevent famine were underway.
The situation is further complicated by Israel’s complex system for approving aid shipments. Humanitarian organizations report facing non-transparent pre-clearance requirements and frequent rejections of “dual-use” items that could purportedly serve military purposes. These restrictions apply even to medical supplies and equipment needed to restore basic infrastructure. MSF has called on Israel’s allies, particularly the United States, to exert pressure to end the blockade and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
