Israel's Blockade on Gaza Threatens Widespread Starvation

Strategic Insights -

Israeli military officials have concluded that Palestinians in Gaza face widespread starvation if aid deliveries are not restored within weeks, according to three Israeli defense officials familiar with conditions in the enclave. The warning comes as Israel's government has publicly dismissed warnings of extreme food shortages after blocking aid deliveries. The internal analysis highlights a growing acknowledgment within the Israeli security establishment of a hunger crisis in Gaza, which has been exacerbated by the blockade that Israel has maintained since March. The blockade has led to a critical shortage of food and fuel in Gaza, with most bakeries having shut down, charity kitchens closing, and the United Nations' World Food Program running out of food stocks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Israeli military officials have privately concluded that Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of starvation unless aid deliveries are restored within weeks.
  • The blockade on Gaza, imposed by Israel in March, has led to a critical shortage of food and fuel in the territory, with most bakeries shutting down and charity kitchens closing.
  • The United Nations' World Food Program has run out of food stocks, and the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has warned that famine is imminent in Gaza.
  • Specialist officers in COGAT, the Israeli government agency overseeing policy in Gaza, have also reached the same conclusion as aid agencies, warning of widespread starvation unless aid deliveries are restored.
  • The Israeli military leadership has acknowledged the severity of the situation and is exploring ways to restart aid deliveries while circumventing Hamas.
  • A plan to restart aid deliveries, proposed by the Trump administration, has been dismissed by aid agencies, including the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which says it would place civilians at greater risk.

Statistics:

  • The cost of flour in Gaza has risen 60-fold since late February.
  • Most bakeries in Gaza have shut down due to the blockade.
  • The United Nations' World Food Program has run out of food stocks.
  • There are currently 400 distribution points for aid in Gaza, which would be reduced to a handful under the proposed plan to restart aid deliveries.
  • The proposed plan to restart aid deliveries would force vulnerable people to walk longer distances to get to distribution hubs, making it harder to get food to those who need it most.
  • The United Nations has warned that the plan would put civilians at greater risk of detention and interrogation.

Sources:

  • "Israel's Blockade of Gaza: A Crisis of Hunger and Uncertainty" by Natan Odenheimer and Ronen Bergman (The New York Times, April 2023)
  • "Integrated Food Security Phase Classification" (U.N. Report, April 2023)
  • "World Food Program: Gaza Strips' Food Stocks Run Out" (U.N. Report, April 2023)
  • "COGAT: Gaza's Humanitarian Situation Continues to Deteriorate" (COGAT Report, April 2023)
  • "U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: Gaza's Humanitarian Situation" (U.N. Report, April 2023)