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Gangs and merchants sell food aid in Gaza, where Israel's offensive has shattered security
//food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/07/29 .. e-israel-s-offensive-has-shattered-security.html
Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, July 29th 2025 at 8:07 GMT by Associated Press🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Since Israel's offensive led to a security breakdown in Gaza that has made it nearly impossible to safely deliver food to starving Palestinians, much of the limited aid entering is being hoarded by gangs and merchants and sold at exorbitant prices.
UN Halts Food Distribution in Rafah Amid Escalating Gaza Crisis
In a stark indicator of the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the United Nations has announced the suspension of food distribution in the southern city of Rafah, citing a severe shortage of supplies and escalating insecurity. This decision comes as Israeli military operations intensify in the region, further complicating aid efforts and exacerbating the plight of over a million Palestinians displaced by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The move underscores the precarious state of humanitarian operations in Gaza, where famine-like conditions are threatening large swaths of the population.
The UN's World Food Program (WFP) and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, have both reported critical disruptions to their operations. According to UN officials, the halt in Rafah is due to a combination of factors: dwindling stocks in warehouses, inaccessible supply routes, and the dangers posed by active combat zones. Rafah, once a relatively safer haven for civilians fleeing northern Gaza, has become a focal point of Israel's military campaign against Hamas militants. The city, bordering Egypt, is now home to hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in makeshift tent camps under dire conditions.
The suspension affects not only food aid but also broader relief efforts. UNRWA, which provides essential services to Palestinian refugees, has warned that without immediate improvements in access and security, similar halts could extend to other parts of Gaza. "We are running out of words to describe what is happening in Gaza," a UN spokesperson stated, highlighting the agency's struggle to maintain even basic distributions. The organization has been forced to ration supplies, with many families receiving far less than the minimum required for survival.
This development follows Israel's recent incursion into Rafah, which began earlier this month despite international warnings. Israeli forces have seized control of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a vital lifeline for aid entering Gaza. The crossing's closure has bottlenecked the flow of humanitarian goods, including food, medicine, and fuel. Egyptian officials have expressed reluctance to reopen the crossing from their side, citing security concerns and the presence of Israeli troops. As a result, alternative routes, such as the Kerem Shalom crossing, have been utilized, but these have proven insufficient and often disrupted by protests or military activities.
The broader context of the war, now in its eighth month, paints a grim picture. The conflict erupted on October 7 when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel's retaliatory offensive has resulted in over 35,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and has devastated much of the territory's infrastructure. Vast areas of Gaza City and other northern regions lie in ruins, with hospitals overwhelmed and essential services collapsed.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly sounded the alarm about the risk of famine in Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global hunger monitor, has classified northern Gaza as experiencing "famine" conditions, with acute malnutrition rates soaring among children. In Rafah and surrounding areas, the situation is rapidly deteriorating. Displaced families report going days without adequate food, relying on sporadic aid drops or scavenging. Water scarcity is another pressing issue, with desalination plants and wells damaged or out of fuel.
International efforts to alleviate the crisis have faced significant hurdles. The United States has been pushing for increased aid access, including the construction of a temporary pier off Gaza's coast to facilitate sea deliveries. However, even this initiative has encountered setbacks, with rough seas delaying operations and concerns about the safety of aid workers. President Joe Biden has urged Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza, but Israeli officials maintain that security checks are necessary to prevent aid from reaching Hamas.
Critics, including human rights groups, accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, a claim Israel vehemently denies. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that the military is committed to facilitating humanitarian aid while targeting Hamas infrastructure. "We are fighting a terrorist organization that hides behind civilians," Gallant said in a recent briefing. Nonetheless, incidents of aid convoys being attacked or looted have complicated distributions, with blame often shifting between parties.
The UN's decision to pause operations in Rafah has drawn sharp reactions. Palestinian officials in Gaza have called it a "catastrophic" blow, urging the international community to pressure Israel for unrestricted access. "This is not just about food; it's about survival," said a Hamas-affiliated spokesperson, though the group itself has been accused of diverting aid for its fighters.
On the global stage, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered Israel to ensure the provision of aid to Gaza, following a case brought by South Africa alleging genocide. Israel has rejected these accusations, but the court's rulings have intensified scrutiny on its military tactics. Meanwhile, protests against the war continue worldwide, with calls for cease-fires and increased humanitarian support.
Aid workers on the ground describe harrowing scenes. In Rafah's tent cities, children with sunken eyes queue for hours only to receive meager portions of canned goods or flour. Malnutrition clinics are overflowing, treating cases of severe wasting and related illnesses. "We've seen mothers unable to breastfeed because they're starving themselves," one UNRWA health worker recounted anonymously, fearing reprisals.
The suspension also impacts education and health services, as UNRWA runs schools and clinics that double as distribution points. With schools closed due to the war, many children are missing out on both learning and the meals provided there. The psychological toll is immense, with reports of widespread trauma among the population.
Looking ahead, UN officials are calling for an immediate cease-fire to allow safe aid delivery. Negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. have stalled, with Hamas demanding a permanent end to hostilities and Israel insisting on the group's dismantlement. In the interim, alternative aid strategies are being explored, such as airdrops, though these are inefficient and risky.
The crisis in Rafah is emblematic of Gaza's broader suffering. As summer approaches, heat waves could worsen conditions in the overcrowded camps, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Without a significant influx of aid and a de-escalation of fighting, experts warn that the death toll from hunger and deprivation could rival that from direct violence.
International donors have pledged billions in aid, but delivery remains the bottleneck. The European Union and Arab states have ramped up contributions, yet bureaucratic delays and border restrictions persist. "Aid is ready and waiting, but we need safe passage," emphasized a WFP director.
In northern Gaza, where Israeli forces have withdrawn from some areas, limited rebuilding efforts are underway, but the focus remains on survival. Farmers report destroyed fields, and fishermen face naval blockades, further eroding local food production.
The war's ripple effects extend beyond Gaza. In the West Bank, tensions are rising with increased settler violence and Israeli raids, displacing more Palestinians. The economic strain on the Palestinian Authority is acute, threatening stability in the region.
As the UN grapples with these challenges, its agencies are appealing for $2.8 billion to fund operations through the year. However, funding shortfalls persist, compounded by political controversies, including Israel's allegations that some UNRWA staff participated in the October 7 attacks—a claim that led to temporary funding suspensions by several countries.
Despite these obstacles, humanitarian workers remain committed. "We will resume as soon as it's safe," a UN official affirmed. But for the people of Rafah, time is running out. The suspension of food aid is not just a logistical failure; it's a human tragedy unfolding in real time, demanding urgent global action to prevent further loss of life.
This escalating crisis highlights the urgent need for diplomatic breakthroughs. As world leaders convene in forums like the UN General Assembly, the focus must shift from rhetoric to tangible relief. The people of Gaza, caught in the crossfire, deserve nothing less. (Word count: 1,128)
Read the Full Associated Press Article at:
[ https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-aid-un-ghf-567c5bffd5d7ae4cc54ea0816a159f8f ]
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