35 International Aid Agencies Confirm Deliberate and Intentional Harm to Civilians in Gaza

Watan-A new survey conducted by 35 humanitarian aid agencies operating in Gaza revealed that Israel has failed to improve humanitarian access over the past year, despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) requiring immediate action to protect Palestinians in Gaza from acts of genocide and the risk of irreparable harm to their rights.

The survey, conducted among NGOs from January 2 to 14, 2025, just days before the cessation of hostilities, highlights how Israel has systematically obstructed and restricted aid, supplies, and services within Gaza since the ICJ ruling on January 26, 2024.

The findings of the survey, which included organizations like Oxfam, Islamic Relief, Doctors of the World, ActionAid, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, revealed the following:

• 89% of respondents said that Israeli measures related to aid provision had worsened since the ICJ ruling.
• 93% stated that the humanitarian situation for those receiving their assistance and services had deteriorated.
• 100% of the surveyed agencies that import humanitarian supplies into Gaza reported that Israeli procedures were either ineffective, systematically impeded humanitarian responses, or were inadequate to meet the immense needs.
• 95% of the agencies importing aid supplies into Gaza regularly experienced delays, with some reporting delays exceeding two months.

Humanitarian agencies reported that essential items, such as personal protective equipment, tarpaulins, winter supplies, mobile kitchens, hygiene items, food, and educational materials, were denied entry under the so-called “dual-use” restrictions, as Israel deemed them potentially usable for military purposes.

Bushra Khalidi, a policy officer at Oxfam, stated:
“Given the current volume of aid entering Gaza, it’s clear how much Israel has obstructed the humanitarian response over the past 15 months. As the survey shows, Israel has completely failed to improve humanitarian conditions, ignoring international law while systematically blocking life-saving aid access.”

She added:
“It is critical to evaluate past failures, even during the ceasefire. Without accountability and a commitment to protecting humanitarian operations, we risk repeating the same cycles of impunity and neglect, leaving millions without hope for a better future.”

The survey is part of a series of rapid assessments of humanitarian access conducted by NGOs to examine Israel’s compliance with ICJ measures regarding humanitarian aid provision. It found that access to essential supplies—such as food, water, fuel, shelter, and sanitation—fell far below the minimum needed to sustain life for Palestinians in Gaza. Israeli policies and procedures were shown to have dismantled the humanitarian infrastructure and operational environment in Gaza.

Dr. Jean-François Corty, head of Doctors of the World, remarked:
“Now that aid is beginning to reach Gaza, the coming weeks will be crucial but challenging, given the scale of destruction Israel has inflicted on Gaza, effectively decimating its humanitarian infrastructure and operational capacity.”

The survey also highlighted the extreme challenges faced by aid workers in Gaza, as systematic Israeli attacks targeted essential services, humanitarian infrastructure, and aid workers themselves. Key findings include:

• 94% of humanitarian workers from participating organizations were displaced at least once, with many displaced multiple times.
• 72% of surveyed aid agencies reported damage to their buildings from Israeli air or ground attacks at least once since January 26, 2024, with many reporting multiple attacks. At least seven agencies’ offices in Gaza City were severely damaged or destroyed, along with numerous NGO-operated medical centers.
• 93% of surveyed aid agencies were forced to relocate their operations at least once due to Israeli displacement orders and military attacks, with most forced to move multiple times.

The survey also underscores the failure of third-party states to fully meet their obligations to prevent atrocities, including the risk of genocide. The report highlights how some states continued to supply Israel with weapons and support while refraining from condemning or taking meaningful action to prevent violations.

The agencies called for uninterrupted humanitarian aid access and urged the international community to urgently address Israel’s ongoing violations of international law.

Riham Jafari, communications and advocacy coordinator for ActionAid in the occupied Palestinian territories, stated:
“It is vital that humanitarian aid access is not only immediate but also sustained and unobstructed. The rights of Palestinians in Gaza must be protected from acts of genocide, and Israel must be held accountable for its continued violations of international law. Without meaningful accountability, suffering will worsen, and the path to justice and peace will remain blocked.”