Since March 18 Israeli forces have escalated bombardment from the air, land and sea across the Gaza Strip and expanded ground operations, resulting in hundreds of casualties, further destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale new displacement. According to the UN, the death toll in Gaza is 50,523, mostly women and children. Additionally, UNICEF reports that after March 18, each day, 100 children are killed or injured in Gaza. The increased insecurity is affecting humanitarian workers and operations, who are facing a risk of direct targeting and severe movement restrictions within Gaza. For more than a month, humanitarian operations have been rendered increasingly impossible by the Israeli government’s total blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies and lack of security guarantees to deliver aid safely.

Without access to humanitarian aid and security to deliver it to people in need, the DRA is heavily hindered to save lives in Gaza. We therefore call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered access of aid, and adherence to international humanitarian law by all parties.

All aid is blocked from entering Gaza.

Since March 2, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza and since March 9 electricity has been cut off. All crossings are closed, and not one single form of aid is coming into Gaza. Supplies are almost depleted, including food, water, medical supplies and fuel. All bakeries in Gaza have been closed due to lack of cooking gas and flour. WFP warns that hundreds of thousands of people are again at risk of severe hunger and malnutrition as humanitarian food stocks in Gaza shrink, prices of limited stocks soar, and all crossings remain closed.

Safety needed to deliver aid is non-existent

Humanitarian operations have been gravely hindered by the absence of guarantees of safety for aid workers moving inside Gaza. The recent expansion of Israeli military activity in Gaza is putting the lives of aid workers even more at risk. The Humanitarian Notification System previously in place to coordinate and “de-conflict” humanitarian movements and facilities with Israel has not been re-established since the resumption of hostilities on March 18. The airstrikes across the Gaza Strip and absence of safety assurances, targeted attacks on aid workers, hospitals and humanitarian facilities such as food distribution locations, has forced humanitarian organisations to significantly restrict their operations while the humanitarian needs are beyond skyrocketing. With the recovery of the 15 bodies of emergency workers part of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society convoy  last week, the number of aid workers killed by Israel in Gaza has risen to 409 since October 2023 (OCHA).

Constricted humanitarian space

The new registration procedure for international NGOs announced by Israel on 9 December 2024 poses a serious threat to continued humanitarian operations across the occupied Palestinian territory at a time when they are needed most. The procedure stands in contradiction to international law and Israel’s obligations under international law. In the past days Israel announced a major expansion of their military operations to include seizure of land to be added to Israel’s ‘security zone’, together with large scale forced displacement of the population. Two thirds of the Gaza strip are now under Israeli forced displacement orders or designated as ‘no-go’ zones. Over 280,000 people are estimated to have been displaced in the last two weeks, including about 100,000 people from Rafah over the past several days.

Maximum action is needed now!

The DRA calls upon the international community, and the Dutch government in particular, to urgently ensure an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables unfettered humanitarian assistance at scale to be delivered to Gaza. This requires the opening of all crossings for the delivery of aid, and to facilitate the provision of essential and life-saving relief assistance, including food, fuel, water, medical supplies and care to people in need, as well as access and safety for humanitarian personnel in Gaza.

Furthermore, we call upon the international community to fulfil its obligation to unequivocally uphold international law and enforce the protection of all civilians to prevent further suffering and loss of human life.

The Dutch Relief Alliance Joint Response in Gaza aims to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, protect vulnerable communities, alleviate the burden of food insecurity, restore essential healthcare services, and address the severe mental health and psycho-social challenges facing those affected by the crisis. Led by War Child, with partner organisations including CARE, Oxfam Novib, Save the Children, Plan International, and Terre des Hommes, the initiative focuses on WASH services, healthcare, food security, multi-purpose cash assistance, and protection.

Photo: War Child (2024)

Spokesperson: Juliette Verhoeven

E: Juliette.Verhoeven@savethechildren.nl